England take on France in Paris

16:52 Wed 26 March 2008

England take on France tonight in Paris. The big news is that super Becks the goldenball is set to pick up his 100th cap. Also, Capello has picked a new captain, Rio Ferdindand, and is rumoured to be about to drop a number of so-called big names such as Ca$hley Cole and Michael Owen.

The game will give new boss Fabio Capello another chance to look at the players at his disposal and try to build for the World Cup qualifiers in the Autumn. But in the end it's only a friendly. The performance will matter more than the result, although a 5-0 drubbing probably wouldn't go down well.

England and France have played each other in games that actually matter. Here's a look back at some them (Euro 92 has been left out as, apart from Pearce cracking the crossbar with a freekick, it was one of the worst games ever played by humans).

France 2 England 1, Euro 2004

Who could forget England versus France in Euro 2004? Frank Lamps rifled in a header from a Beckham freekick in the first half. Then after the break Rooney skinned the French back four and was hacked down in the box by Silvestre. Up stepped Becks and missed leaving Zidane to score a freekick and a peno in injury time to win the game for France.



England 3 France 1, Spain 82

England's first World Cup game in twelve years got off to a great start. Brian Robson scored a volley in the first minute followed by a header in the second half. Paul Mariner bagged a third in the 83rd minute. It was all looking so good. Unfortunately England failed to score a goal in the second round and although unbeaten they were out of the World Cup, again.



England 2 France 0, England 1966

Roger Hunt popped up with two goals in in this first round game against the French on the road to victory in 1966. A meagre 98,000 fans were to watch proceedings at Wembley.