Football: England v France

England manager Fabio Capello sports some natty and necessary headgear as the rain comes down at Wembley. His team have a difficult task ahead of them as it's been 13 years since England have beaten France and the current French team haven't conceded a goal in three games
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

First day nerves start to show on the face of Andy Carroll as he lines up before kick-off. However fellow debutant Jordan Henderson seems to be taking it in his stride Photograph: Tom Jenkins

The England team that starts tonight is almost unrecognisable from the one that crashed out of the World Cup. It's a line up with one eye on the future as six of the starting line-up are under the age of 25 Photograph: Tom Jenkins

You can see the disappointment on Theo Walcott's face as he is dispossessed by the sliding Philippe Mexes Photograph: Tom Jenkins

England captain Ferdinand and Benzema go up for a header Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Yann M'Vila clears spectacularly under pressure from Gerrard Photograph: Tom Jenkins

This time Gerrard gets close enough to M'Vila to get a touch on the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

France have the best of the first quarter of an hour, with England having trouble getting hold of the ball, and their superiority is rewarded with a goal on the 16th minute. Benzema shows a nice piece of control and plays a one-two with Malouda which gives him a yard of space just inside the area, then a fierce left footed drive inside the near post gives the visitors the lead Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Sagna gets down fastest to beat Milner to the ball Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Despite starting the game with a groin strain, debutant Carroll has enough pace to skip past Mexes Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Sunderland's Jordan Henderson goes on a marauding run on his debut Photograph: Tom Jenkins

All eyes are on the ball as Andy Carroll takes on Mexes Photograph: Tom Jenkins

A rare item this - an England shot at goal - it's Milner who gets one away through the legs of Mexes
Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Gerrard gets out of the way of the sliding boot of M'Vila Photograph: Tom Jenkins

At half-time Capello has a bit of a tinker around with tactics so Milner goes up to play off Carroll and Stevie drops back further into the middle. This doesn't seem to help as England are still regularly surrendering possession due to inaccurate passing. Then 10 minutes in and the inevitable happens again and France go 2-0 up. Sagna receives the ball down the right, slips it past Gibbs, then runs onto it before putting in a perfect cross which Valbuena side foots home, giving Ben Foster no chance. Given the way they've been playing it's gonna take something mighty special for England to get something out of the game Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Valbuena tries an acrobatic back-flick in front of Gibbs Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Gibbs tries some acrobatics of his own Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Jordan Henderson slides the ball towards fellow debutant Andy Carrolll Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Kieran Gibbs beats his Arsenal team-mates Nasri and Sagna Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Adam Johnson opens up his leg to go past Mamadou Sakho Photograph: Tom Jenkins

In the 79th minute England are within inches of pulling a goal back when Gerrard pounces on a ball spilled by Lloris and spanks it goal-wards but agonisingly it shaves the outside of the post and the French goalkeeper must be breathing a big sigh of relief Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Just five minutes later things get worse for Steven Gerrard (and Roy Hodgson) as he pulls his hamstring stretching for a tackle, and goes off to be replaced by Crouch. The Spurs striker has an immediate impact with his first touch of the game, he volleys home a corner from an incredibly tight angle to give England some hope Photograph: Tom Jenkins

However, England can't capitalise on the hope that Crouchie gave them, so it's Vive la France!! And Astrid. For Cappello it's back to the drawing board and try and work out how to improve on tonight's disappointing performance. The coach and the FA will also have some awkward questions to answer over Gerrard's injury Photograph: Tom Jenkins