euro 2012 Outplayed England gets away with one

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/06/2012 (5203 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

DONETSK, Ukraine — England went 1-for-1 in a 1-1 draw with France.

Joleon Lescott scored England’s lone goal on England’s lone shot on target a few minutes before Samir Nasri equalized as the teams finished even in Group D of the European Championship.

“I think we have to be happy with that,” France coach Laurent Blanc said. “We were too timid at the start. There was a bit of pressure that got to us, and then we got better actually after we conceded the goal. That’s when we started playing.”

England took the lead in the 30th minute when captain Steven Gerrard curled in a free kick from the right after Patrice Evra had fouled James Milner, and Lescott was able to nod the ball past France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

France’s equalizer was all about one-touch football as Florent Malouda, Evra and Franck Ribery flicked the ball around the left side of England’s penalty area to free up space for Nasri, who put in a low shot before England goalkeeper Joe Hart could react.

“The England defence was really low, so I had to take a shot,” Nasri said. “The weird thing is Joe Hart knows me from Manchester City, and knows I normally open my (instep), so this time I closed it.”

The French team finished the match with 19 shots, 15 of them on target. England managed three shots, but only the one on target.

The draw means France has still not won a match at a major tournament since the 2006 World Cup. The national team, however, is unbeaten in its last 22 matches.

When Nasri celebrated his goal, he shouted “Ferme ta geule,” or “Shut your mouth.” He then brought his finger to his lips as if telling someone to keep quiet.

The gesture was aimed at a French journalist from sports daily L’Equipe, who had questioned his form in an article the day before the match.

“These are individual and personal reactions. They are always something we don’t always expect,” Blanc said.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

England coach Roy Hodgson said he didn’t notice Nasri’s actions.

“Did he? Not to me, he didn’t,” Hodgson said. “Had he said a few words to me in French, I could have replied.”

Nasri’s goal was more than just an equalizer because it helped the French avoid yet another setback after the calamity of their 2010 World Cup and Euro 2008 campaigns — where the players returned home shamefaced following first-round exits.

— The Associated Press