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Live from Euro 2004


France and England survive scares

French midfielder and captain Zinedine Zidane jubilates after his goal, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against Switzerland at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO John MACDOUGALL
French midfielder and captain Zinedine Zidane jubilates after his goal, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against Switzerland at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO John MACDOUGALL
England midfielder Paul Scholes congratulates Wayne Rooney (R) after he scored England's third goal against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. England and Croatia are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland.
England midfielder Paul Scholes congratulates Wayne Rooney (R) after he scored England's third goal against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. England and Croatia are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland.

France will play Greece and England will play Portugal in the Euro quarter-finals after the two Group B favourites survived scares to beat Switzerland and Croatia on an evening packed with ten goals on Monday.

France won the Group with seven points after eventually beating Switzerland 3-1 with goals from Zinedine Zidane and a brace from Thierry Henry.

A scrappy Zidane header got France going but the match was tied at 1-1 for a full 50 minutes after Switzerland's 18-year-old striker Johan Vonlanthen became the youngest ever scorer in a European championships finals with his 26th minute strike.

French forward Thierry Henry (R) is about to jubilate after hie second goal against Switzerland, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO
French forward Thierry Henry (R) is about to jubilate after hie second goal against Switzerland, 21 June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during their Euro 2004 group B football match at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Javier SORIANO

Mikael Silvestre, who has already given away two penalties during Euro let the youngster in when a bad defensive error left Fabien Barthez prone.

But with 15 minute to go substitute Louis Saha set up Thierry Henry with his first touch and the Arsenal man's strike from near the penalty spot made it 2-1 and broke his France goal drought dating back to November 2003.

After 84 minutes Henry broke down the left and dummied the Swiss keeper Jorg Steil to make it 3-1 for France and ensure they met Greece on Friday in the second quarter-final.

England forward Wayne Rooney shoots and scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Croatia and England are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT
England forward Wayne Rooney shoots and scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations football championships match at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon. Croatia and England are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland. AFP PHOTO Francois Xavier MARIT

England can thank a brace of goals from nerveless wonderkid Wayne Rooney for setting up a 4-2 comeback against a brave Croatia who had grabbed a fourth minute lead when England failed to clear a free-kick.

Niko Kovac toe-poked home to stun the English, who needed a draw or a win to qualify for the quarters.

They had to wait until the 40th minute for their breakthrough as the Croats tried to defend their early lead.

England midfielder Paul Scholes (C) scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. England and Croatia are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland.
England midfielder Paul Scholes (C) scores against Croatia, 21 June 2004 during their European Nations Championship football match at the Stadium of Light in Lisbon. England and Croatia are competing in Group B with France and Switzerland.

Paul Scholes, who hadn't scored since June 6, 2001 against Greece, headed home a Wayne Rooney cross. Rooney then smacked home a thunderbolt in first half injury-time to send his side in 2-1 at the break.

With Croatia on the offensive Rooney broke and struck again on 68 minutes to take his personal tally to four from three games in the Euro so far.

Though Croatia reduced the score through an Igor Tudor header five minutes later Frank Lampard restored the two goal cushion ten minutes from time and England were in the quarter-finals.