(adds details)
By Mike Collett
PARIS, March 26 - A first-half penalty from Franck
Ribery spoiled David Beckham's 100th appearance for England by
giving France a 1-0 friendly win at the Stade de France on
Wednesday.
Midfielder Ribery marked a superb performance by scoring
from the spot against the run of play in the 32nd minute after
Nicolas Anelka was brought down by keeper David James.
The 32-year-old Beckham started the match to become only the
fifth English player in 136 years of international soccer to
achieve a century of appearances for his country.
He worked tirelessly on the right wing and sent over a
series of trademark crosses and long passes but also received a
first-half booking for checking Ribery before being replaced by
David Bentley after 63 minutes.
He left the field to a standing ovation from both the French
and English supporters.
England, who failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals and
have not beaten France in Paris in five matches since a 3-1
friendly win in 1949, fought bravely before the break but
gradually conceded midfield possession to the French who
finished the stronger side.
Despite being at fault for the penalty which was similar to
the one James conceded against France in Euro 2004 when he
upended Thierry Henry, the goalkeeper had a good game and
thwarted numerous French scoring chances in the second half.
CLEVER MOVE
France took the lead after a clever exchange of passes in
midfield freed up right-back Francois Clerc.
Anelka was first to react to Clerc's long speculative
forward pass and got a touch to the ball before being clattered
by James and sent flying into the air.
Ribery made no mistake from the penalty spot -- then earned
himself a yellow card for taking off his shirt as he celebrated
his goal.
England spurned three chances to score in the 15 minutes
before France took the lead -- all three fell to Steven Gerrard
who sent two headers over the bar, while one wayward shot was
also too high and wide to trouble goalkeeper Gregory Coupet.
England took control of the match after a bright start by
France saw Anelka head a Ribery free-kick wide after eight
minutes, but both Anelka and David Trezeguet saw increasingly
less of the ball as England dominated the midfield for most of
the first half.
Beckham went close to scoring when he chased a low cross
from Ashley Cole after 15 minutes that just eluded the golden
boots he was wearing to mark his century milestone.
As the match moved into its later stages, France inspired by
the tireless Ribery began to look like the contenders they could
well be at the Euro 2008 finals in June while England's midfield
struggled to maintain their earlier dominance.
(editing by Justin Palmer)