Live from Euro 2004
Group B remains in the balance
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| England's midfielder and captain David Beckham (R) and teammate midfielder Frank Lampard (L) congratulate forward Wayne Rooney after his goal, 17 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Mladen ANTONOV |
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| French forward David Trezeguet celebrates after scoring against Croatia, 17 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria. France and Croatia are competing in Group B with Switzerland and England. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS |
Group B remains unsettled after England swept aside Switzerland 3-0 but favourites France were held to a 2-2 draw in a pool that will go down to the wire.
While France were forced to come from 2-1 down thanks to a controversial equaliser from David Trezeguet, and remain top of the group, Croatia can still qualify if they can beat second placed England on Monday in Lisbon.
Earlier on Thursday, Wayne Rooney helped himself to two goals and a place in history as England got their campaign back on track with an impressive 3-0 win over 10-man Switzerland.
Rooney's 23rd and 75th minute strikes made the 18-year-old the youngest ever player to score in the finals of a European Championships.
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| England's midfielder Steven Gerrard (R) jubilates after his goal next to Switzerland's midfielder Christoph Spycher, 17 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. England won 3-0. AFP PHOTO Aris MESSINIS |
They were also the perfect tonic for Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad after the agony of the last gasp defeat by France in their group B opener.
Liverpool's dynamic midfielder Steven Gerrard helped make up for his ghastly error against France by sweeping home England's third goal but coach Sven Goran Eriksson can expect a tough battle against Croatia with a place in the last eight on the line.
France given fright by valliant Croatia
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| Croatia's forward Dado Prso (R) shoots and scores against France, 17 June 2004, during their European Nations football championship match at the Dr. Magalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria. France and Croatia are competing in Group B with Switzerland and England. AFP Photo / Miguel RIOPA |
Holders France were given a nasty fright by Croatia taking a first-half lead via a Zinedine Zidane free-kick that was deflected in by defender Igor Tudor but then conceded two goals in four minutes courtesy of defensive errors.
Mickael Silvestre conceded his second penalty in two matches but unlike the England fixture, Fabien Barthez was unable to keep out Milan Rapaic's well taken spotkick.
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| Croatia's forward Dado Prso (R) is congratulated by teamates after scoring against France to make it 2-1, 17 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Doctor Maghalhaes Pessoa stadium in Leiria. Croatia and France are competing in Group B with Switzerland and England. . |
It then went from bad to worse for Jacques Santini's men as a clanger from Marcel Desailly in the penalty box gave Dado Prso a clear sight of goal and he pulled the trigger to give Croatia a shock 2-1 lead.
Credit must be given to France who turned up the pressure in search of an equaliser and it duly came in the 64th minute when Trezeguet charged down a clearance by the Croatia 'keeper but although he appeared to block the ball with his arm, his low sweeping shot into the unguarded goal was allowed to stand by Danish referee Kim Nielsen.
Both teams had chances to win the match outright but it finished 2-2 leaving France with one foot firmly in the quarter-finals while Croatia must beat England to qualify.
Switzerland are all but eliminated barring a win over France in thier final match and a England victory over Croatia.