Switzerland v France - MATCH REPORT
Henry lifts France into last eight
Thierry Henry finally found his magic touch at Euro 2004 by scoring twice in France's 3-1 win over Switzerland on Monday to earn the defending champions a quarter-final date with Greece.
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| 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 |
Jacques Santini's side were pushed hard by the Swiss before setting up a date with the surprise package of these championships in Lisbon on Friday by finishing top of Group B with seven points.
Zinedine Zidane had given France a deserved lead in the 20th minute, the French skipper notching up his third goal of the championships when heading in Robert Pires' corner from the right.
France then won a clutch of corners but somehow the Swiss defence held firm and six minutes later they were back in business with an equaliser from 18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen, who became the youngest ever scorer in a European championships.
Ricardo Cabanas pounced on an error by French defender Mikael Silvestre and then threaded the ball through to Vonlanthen whose angled shot nestled in the left hand corner of Fabien Barthez's net.
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| Swiss forward Johan Vonlanthen (C) jubilates with teammate forward Daniel Gygax (L) after his goal while French defender Mikael Silvestre reacts, 21June 2004 at Coimbra's stadium, during the Euro 2004 group B football match against France at the European Nations championship in Portugal. AFP PHOTO Franck FIFE |
Then in the 76th minute Henry finally got the goal he's been aching for, the Arsenal attacker tapping in after being fed by a knock-on from Louis Saha's head just seconds after the Manchester United player had come on for David Trezeguet.
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| 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 |
It was to fall to Henry to put the match beyond doubt as the Premiership's top scorer last season stormed in from the left, scattering the Swiss defence in his wake, to shoot right-footed past Stiel.
It was a memorable night for Henry - and despite Switzerland's elimination from Group B, they have the consolation that Vonlanthen, at 18 years four months and 20 days, takes over the distinction as the championships' youngest ever scorer by three months and four days from England's Wayne Rooney.