Last night England made their first fall under Fabio Capello’s reign, after what he was claiming will be their hardest game prior to World Cup Qualifiers.

The only goal of the game was scored by from the spot. A penalty being awarded after David James made a late dive for the ball sending Nicolas Anelka somersaulting into the air. Frank Ribery was left to send the Portsmouth number one the wrong way on the 32nd minute.

The rest of the game, all on the night of David Beckham’s 100th cap seemed to be disastrous for England, what appeared to be a lack of passing accuracy and crossing made the whole game uneventful.

Frank Ribery, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda all came close to goal several times, many on the counter seemingly passing the non-apparent England defence with ease.

One of England’s most outstanding players, Beckham on an epic evening was substituted on the two-third mark, leaving Bentley to replace him. Leaving to a standing ovation.

After the replacement of Beckham, England appeared to lose all chances of a goal. Beckham who seemed to be the only person to cross a ball, having it as his trademark, had been carrying England’s chances on his ability to put the ball into Crouch. England fell to the fact that after Beckham had left the pitch William Gallas’s superb marking of Crouch, beating him to headers several times was only harnessing the criticism of their crossing.

Player’s such as Stuart Downing and Gareth Barry displayed poor first-touches and England looked to fall down further if it weren’t for a fine display of holding from Owen Hargreaves.

France showed much skills and capability, possibly for the upcoming Euro 2008, through epic counter-attacking, lightning pace from Frank Ribery, Nicolas Anelka and Florent Malouda shone throughout the night in Paris. Several chances were stopped at last gasp blocks from the middle-class display of the England Defence.

As a whole the night was one to remember for England only for the fact that Beckham had hit the record books as only the sixth ever player to reach 100 caps for England.