5 classic encounters between England and France

England take on France in an international friendly in Paris on Tuesday night.

Gareth Southgate’s side will be looking to sign off for the summer with a positive performance against their rivals from across the Channel

Here, we look back at five memorable clashes between the nations.

England 2 France 0 (Wembley, July 20, 1966)

England faced their near neighbours in the final group match of the 1966 World Cup knowing a draw or even a narrow defeat would see them through. France, however, needed a win. The French complained of offside as Roger Hunt tapped in the rebound after Jack Charlton hit the post, and Nobby Stiles’ challenge on midfielder Jacques Simon in the build-up to Hunt’s second was agricultural to say the least. But back in the days when refereeing decisions went England’s way – not least in the final – it mattered little. An injury to Jimmy Greaves ended his tournament but made a household name of his replacement, Geoff Hurst, as Bobby Moore went on to lift the Jules Rimet trophy.

England 3 France 1 (Bilbao, June 16, 1982)

England’s first World Cup in 12 years got off to a flying start, and a frustrating finish. Bryan Robson scored one of the fastest goals in World Cup history when he hooked in Terry Butcher’s flick-on after just 27 seconds of the group opener. Gerard Soler levelled for France, who had in their ranks Alain Giresse and captain Michel Platini, but Robson’s second and a late Paul Mariner strike secured victory for Ron Greenwood’s side. Both teams progressed to a second group phase, a format which – after goalless draws with West Germany and hosts Spain – saw England achieve the notable feat of getting knocked out of the tournament without losing a match.

France 0 England 1 (Montpellier, June 7, 1997)

Just 12 months after Baddiel and Skinner had lamented 30 years of hurt, England went and won a trophy. Paul Scholes and David Beckham had been added to the squad which had gone so close at Euro 96 as England, hosts France, Italy and Brazil warmed up for World Cup 98. Italy had already been dispatched when Alan Shearer took advantage of Fabien Barthez’s fumble four minutes from time to secure a win against the French on their own turf for the first time since 1949. Defeat to Brazil could not prevent Glenn Hoddle’s men bringing home the silverware and somewhere, 20 years on, Le Tournoi trophy is probably still gleaming – even though it appeared to be a football glued on to a jigsaw box.

France 2 England 1 (Lisbon, June 13, 2004)

Beckham was by now captaining England but Zinedine Zidane won the battle of the skippers at Euro 2004. Frank Lampard headed in Beckham’s first-half free-kick, but Beckham missed a second-half penalty after a teenage Wayne Rooney was brought down by Mikael Silvestre. Nevertheless, everything was still looking rosy until stoppage time, when Zidane curled in a majestic free-kick. Still, a point would have been welcome from a tough opening fixture. Unfortunately England completely lost their discipline, Steven Gerrard’s weak back-pass was seized upon by Thierry Henry and David James sent him tumbling, leaving ‘Zizou’ to do the rest from the penalty spot.

England 2 France 0 (Wembley, November 17, 2015)

An emotional night as more than 70,000 fans stood shoulder to shoulder to honour the victims of the Paris terror attacks four days earlier. Supporters from both countries united to sing La Marseillaise in front of the Duke of Cambridge and then Prime Minister David Cameron. A perfectly observed minute’s silence, with both sets of players standing together in the centre-circle, preceded a game in which the result was the least important issue of the evening. For the record, Dele Alli scored on his full England debut with a 25-yard strike before Rooney’s volley sealed an England victory.