England lose it in stoppage time
Last updated : 13 June 2004 By Tony Scholes
 | Frank Lampard - scored for England |
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In an incredible end to the game French midfielder Zinadine Zidane scored twice in the four minutes added on to turn the game on its head with England having held the lead from the 38th minute when Frank Lampard headed in a David Beckham free kick.
It should have all been in the bag in the second half when Wayne Rooney won England a penalty after a fantastic run but captain Beckham saw his poor spot kick saved by Fabien Barthez.
Despite a second half of intense pressure it looked as though we would hold on until substitute Emile Heskey gave away a needless free kick outside the box from which Zidane superbly equalised and worse was to come.
A poor and needless backpass by Steve Gerrard forced keeper David James into drastic action and he brought down Thierry Henry with Zidane scoring from the spot.
The one consolation for England was the game played earlier between Croatia and Switzerland with neither side suggesting they were going to be a threat in the group. Croatia made no real attempt to win the game against the Swiss who looked incapable of winning it.
Yesterday the competition got underway with hosts Portugal losing to Greece in the opening game and although a shock scoreline the Greeks fully deserved it. Former Claret Dimitri Papadopoulos was on the bench but not called into action.
In the second Group A game Spain beat Russia 1-0 in a less than inspiring game.
England are next in action on Thursday when they play Switzerland in Coimbra.
Group A