Courtesy: The FA.com


First blood to France

Wednesday, 20 December 2006


England 2-4 France

International Futsal Friendly Double-Header
7pm, Tuesday 19 December 2006
English Institute of Sport, Sheffield

Next Game: 7pm, Wednesday 20 December 2006

England's first match against France in this week's Futsal International double-header ended in disappointment on Tuesday, despite leading 2-0.

The Three Lions are still looking for their first win on the Futsal stage and after 20 minutes looked to be heading for that historic mark against a tough French side.

Graeme Dell's side began confidently against a nervous looking Les Bleus team and created a series of scoring opportunities. Hampton and Richmond's Glen Harris was the first to benefit, ending a driving run into the French box with a clinical finish.

The home side continued to probe intelligently and missed narrowly on two occasions before Richard Follett curled a quickly taken free-kick around a disorganised French wall to put England two-nil up.

But the team's performance deteriorated whilst in a winning position. Zoran Markovic scrambled in France's first goal which was soon followed by the equaliser from Kettering's Jean-Paul Marna firing in a powerful shot into the top corner.

England tried to regain their first-half momentum but with little effect. France were growing visibly in confidence, with each phase of French possession finishing with a shot or a cross.

England's Graeme Smith was called upon to make a number of impressive saves particularly against the speedy Marna. The Three Lions' passing began to look tired and from an interception France broke forward and Follett could only look on as he deflected a cross into his own goal.

England struggled to exert pressure on the French team but with the clock counting down a further interception allowed Mustapha Otmani to charge through unopposed and put the game beyond England's reach.



Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com