France Equalizes Spain On Last Minute Goal

France celebrates Olivier Giroud's last minute equalizer. (Getty Images)

France came into today's World Cup Qualifier looking for some revenge for Euro 2012, and to prove to everyone that Spain isn't invincible.  Did they accomplish either of those aims?  Maybe.  They took advantage of a late Spanish mistake to score a goal on virtually the last kick of the match.  I for one came away thinking the wounds that led to Spain dropping points were more self inflicted than the result of anything France did.

France came out in a fairly conservative formation, but kind of clogged up the midfield blocking any direct route at goal for the Spanish possession offense.  However Spain did find some joy on the wings, especially coming up the left side.  This resulted in a corner kick in the 26th minute.  It was sent in to the area and Sergio Ramos saw his first shot go off the post and seemingly away from danger.  However, France couldn't clear, and the ball came back into the area.  While Ramos was still standing there, literally with his head in his hands, the ball fell kindly to him and he smashed it into the top of the net to give Spain the 1-0 lead.

France struggled to create quality chances, but appeared to have equalized the match just prior to halftime.  Jeremy Menez managed to poke home a ball from Karim Benzema at close range, but the goal was ruled out for offside.  Replays seemed to suggest that while Menez was ahead of the last defender when the ball came across, he looked to actually be behind the ball.  At any rate, the decision stood.

Spain had a golden chance to to go up 2-0 at the death of the first half.  Laurent Koscielny cynically brought down Pedro in the area to concede a penalty kick.  Cesc Fabregas stepped up to take it, but Hugo Lloris guessed correctly, diving to his right to save the kick and keeping it 1-0 going into the break.

France came out much more lively in the second half, but scrappy play from both sides dominated the match.  Karim Benzema had a chance to even things up, but somehow missed the target after a great cross from Frank Ribery.

However in the 94th minute the French would take advantage of their literal last chance.  Spain sub Juanfran turned the ball over in midfield and France came storming up the pitch.  Ribery was on hand again to drop yet another pinpoint cross into the box, and this time France got it on target.  Arsenal man Olivier Giroud rose and headed the ball past Iker Casillas into the back of the net to salvage a a point for France at full time.

Zidane Head-Butt Immortalized

Yes folks, see and believe.  The head-butt will live forever, not just on film, but in bronze.  Of course THE head-butt refers to Zinedine Zidane's head-butt on Marco Materazzi in the end of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Final.

The incident happened in the 110th minute of the match, when the French international head butted the Italian in the chest.  He was sent off, and it was to be his final match.  Italy went on to win the match, and the World Cup, 5-3 on penalties.

Zidane was given a 3 match ban for the incident, but as he retired after the match, he served 3 days working with FIFA's humanitarian arm instead.  Since his retirement, Zidane has participated in various charities and plays for the Real Madrid Veterans squad.

The statue has been erected in Paris and is....interesting to say the least!

Euro 2012: France vs. England

England's James Milner reacts after missing a chance against France.  (Getty Images)

This is likely to be one of my shortest match reviews on this blog.  Even as an England fan, I'll say this match sucked.  However, I'm sure the Three Lions will probably be happier to come away with just the single point than France will.

The first shot of the match didn't come until the 11th minute from France's Samir Nasri.  The effort itself was nothing but speculative though and sailed harmlessly off target.  England should have taken the lead four minutes later as James Milner sprung loose to get 1v1 with the French 'keeper, but somehow he managed to find side netting instead of the actual target.

Nothing else happened until the 30th minute when England got on the board.  Captain Steven Gerrard sent a free kick into the box and Man City defender Jolleon Lescott eased it off his head and into the goal to make it 0-1 to England.  The lead lasted less than ten minutes though.  In the 39th Nasri sent in a shot that just managed to sneak into the near post to equalize the match at 1-1.  Joe Hart probably should have done better.

That was it for the first half and pretty much for the game as both sides seemed to sit back and be satisfied with the draw.  In the 64th minute Karim Benzema forced a rather meek save out of Hart to account for France's best chance.  The best look of the half for England was even worse.  In the 66th minute Glen Johnson fired a shot over the bar that ended up in row ZZZ.  That was all she wrote and the match finished 1-1.

For my money, it was the worst match of tournament so far.