Record of England v France Matches
International Football Games Played between English and French
England’s second international under Fabio Capello is a friendly against France in Paris. The two countries have met on twenty seven occasions with seventeen away games, fourteen in France and three in the finals of the European Championships or World Cup. England have won ten of those games and drawn two.
England Have Early Success
The first seven internationals between the countries were played in France and England were successful in the first six matches. The first international was in May, 1923 with England winning 4-1. The first and last goals goal were scored by Ken Hegan while the second came from the Sunderland forward Charles Buchan who is remembered for the football magazine - ‘Charles Buchan Football Monthly’. Frederick Creek scored England’s other goal while France’s late consolation strike came from Jules Dewaquez.
England and France played in May for six consecutive seasons until 1929 and England won comfortably on each occasion. Among the England goal scorers was the legendary Dixie Dean.
France's First Victory
However, when they met in May, 1931 France recorded their first victory, a convincing 5-2 victory. England took an early lead through Sammy Crooks but France scored five times before an hour had been played. The goals were scored by Lucien Laurent, Robert Furois (2), Marcel Langiller and Edmond Delfour. England could only manage one to score once more through Thomas Waring.
France's First Game in England
France’s first game in England was in December, 1933 at White Hart Lane. England won 4-1 with centre forward George Camsell scoring twice.
Order had now been restored as far as England was concerned and although matches were played less frequently they went on to win the next three internationals played before and after the Second World War.
The game in May, 1947 was played at Highbury and England under Walter Winterbottom won 3-0 with second half goals scored by Tom Finney, Wilf Mannion and Raich Carter.
France at Wembley
France’s first game at Wembley resulted in a four goal defeat in November, 1957. The goals were scored by future England manager, Bobby Robson (2) and Tommy Taylor (2).
Alf Ramsey - England Manager
Two significant contests took place in the 1960s. In February, 1963 Alf Ramsey in his first game as England manager took his team to Paris to play a European Championship qualifying game. England lost 2-5, giving France their third victory. On becoming manager Ramsey had predicted that England would win the World Cup in 1966 but his new look team were three goals down by half-time and although Bobby Smith and Bobby Tambling scored, France immediately responded with two more.
However, in July, 1996 England and France met at Wembley in the group stage of the World Cup and Roger Hunt’s two goals ensured the host nation’s progress to the latter stages of the competition and the ultimate success that Ramsey had predicted.
June, 1997 - England's Last win
England’s last success over France was in June, 1997 – a late Alan Shearer goal bringing victory in a friendly game in Montpellier.
Since then France have achieved their only success in England, a 2-0 victory at Wembley in February, 1999 when Howard Wilkinson was in temporary charge of England. Nicolas Anelka scored both goals.
Zidane's Late, Late Goals
The most recent match was in Portugal in the European Championship Finals in June, 2004. England went ahead in the first half through Frank Lampard, had a David Beckham penalty saved in the second half but looked set for victory until two goals from Zinedine Zidane late in injury time rescued his side.
Beckham's 100th International?
As David Beckham has been called into the England squad for this international he will be looking to exact revenge for that miss if he is selected for his 100th England appearance.
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