Match Reports
France 3-0 Belguim.
Goalcorers.
(France)
Henry 23, 80
Pires 41
1st Half
From the the off France where always the better team, first to everything, closing down quickly and using the wings very effectively.
Henry had some good early chances, turning the defenders but ending up with weak shots. Belguim did get a a break through though when Mpenza intercepted a Desailly pass and went through 1 on 1 with Barthez but the French keeper made a great stop to deny Belguim the lead. France eventually scored after 23 minutes. Wiltord took a throw in to Lizarazu, he turned his marker and sent in a great early ball which was met by a solid header from Henry which caught the Keeper on the wrong foot...1-0 to France. France doubled their lead after 41 minutes when Zidane 20 yard effort struck the post and Pires followed up with a simple tap in...2-0.
2nd Half
The second half was exactly the same as the first. Belguim had their chances but didn't convert and as the game wore on you could sense another France goal and on 80 minutes Henry found the net yet again. The ball came to him on the edge of the box with his back to goal he used all his skill and speed to turn both the central defenders and fire it passed the keeper into the bottom right hand corner.....3-0 and the game was over.
Ukraine 0-0 Italy
1st Half
On paper you would think Italy wouldn't have a problem beating the Ukraine...but that wasn't to be. This game was the complete opposite to France/Belguim game. Very scrappy not many chances for either team as both defences proved very tough to break. Ukraine had most chances in the first half with Rebrov troubling Buffon a few times, once hitting the post from a tight angle and the other a 1 on 1 which the Italian keeper dealt with calmly. Italy resorted to playing the long ball as the game became very boring. But they did have a good spell of passing for the ast 5.
2nd Half
Italy came out in the second half just as they finished the last 5 minutes of the first, very good football, passing it around nicely and they got Totti in for an early chance which he struck over the bar. Totti had a great header saved late on in the match as Zambrotta flew down the left wing and sent a dangerous swinging ball in which Totti connected with well, but was met with an equally good save by the keeper. It ended 0-0.
Greece 1-1 Holland
Goalscorers
(Greece)
Machlas22
(Holland)
Kluivert 84
1st Half
Suprisingly Greece had a much better start than Holland, Machlas proved a real pain for Stam and De Boer who didn't look at all settled early on. Machlas eventually found a way through as he went 1 on 1 with Van Der Sar but the big Dutchman made himself big and made a good save. Greece did score though after 22 minutes thanks to Machlas. It was almost an identical goal to that of Henry's first for France. A throw in, great turn, great cross, great header and GOAL!...1-0 to the Greeks. As the first half wore on Holland got more into the game and their best chane fell to Overmars who just missed the post from the edge of the box.
2nd Half
There where plebty of chances in the second half, some of the best falling to Machlas who went through on 2 occasions, 1 on 1 with Van Der Sar but each time the big keeper won. It looked all but over for Holland as the game drew to a close but on 84 minutes their luck would eventually arrive when a corner was cleared by Greece only to fall to Stam, who chipped it back into box, Van Nistlerooy flicked it on to Kluivert whose first touch took it away from his marker and he side footed it in off the post to equalise for Holland. inal score 1-1.
Czech 0-0 Germany
1st Half
This was a fast paced game from the start, with Germany having most of the possession. Germany where always going to in the battle in midfield, especially with a 3-6-1 formation. But that left Neuville stranded on his own and he was unable to do anything when he got the ball. There weren't many chances in the first half.
2nd Half
The second half was the same as the first, very boring. No real god chances for either team and the best chance of the second half fell to Koller whose free header fell wide of the post. Final Score 0-0.
Norway 2-1 England
Goalscorers
(Norway)
Solskjaer 38
Carew 44
(England)
Beckham 5
1st Half
England couldn't have asked for a better start when Becks scored after just 5 minutes, Heskey had found himself in loads of space on the left hand side he made a good pass to Beckham who was also in acres of space, he took a few touches and unleashed a stunning strike from outside the area into the top right hand corner. England dominated the game but disaster struck when on 38 minutes Solskjaers through ball found Carew all on his own with James charging out like a Rhino, and Carew simply slotted it passed James for the equaliser. Englands nightmare got even worse when on 44 minutes Carew turned Scholes and found Solskjaer open and all on his own, he then fired it passed James for 2-1.
2nd Half
Again England dominated the game in the second half and and their best chance fell to Owen late on who found himself 1 on 1 with the keeper only to take to long on the ball and get tackled by a defender coming back. England didn't deserve to get beat like this, but 2 little defensive errors cost them the game. Final score 2-1.
Portugal 1-0 Yugoslavia
Goalscorers
(Portugal)
Pauleta 84
1st Half
A fairly even game to start with both teams looking confident on the ball, but Yugoslavia looked the more threatening going forward. There weren't many chances in the first half and the chances the teams had where mainly free kicks that went over th bar.
2nd Half
Mijatovic wasted the best chance of the game mid-way through the second half when he went 1 on 1 with the keeper, only to chip it way over the bar. The break through finally came when a bad pass in the Yugoslavian box aloud Pauleta to intercept and cooly slot it passed the keeper. Fianl score 1-0.
Denmark 0-0 Turkey
1st Half
This half was dominated by Turkey and Sas should've had a few goals before half time only to be denied by great goalkeeping by Sorensen. Both teams struggled to get inside each other penalty area and had to resort to long range efforts. Not many chances as the first half turned into a midfild battle.
2nd Half
The second half was boring.......end of.
Sweden 0-1 Spain
Goalscorers
(Spain)
Nadal 56
1st Half
Spain played really good football early on, the midfield kept hold of the ball well and didn't let Sweden get into the game. But the best chance of the half came to Sweden. Sweden had won a corner and it was a great cross to the back post where Larsson was waiting, he made a great header from 6 yards out and Casillas made an unbelievable point blank save to deny Sweden the lead.
2nd Half
The breakthrough came on 56 minutes when Spain won a corner. Luis Enrique took it and Nadal was left with a unmissable free header which beat Hedman with ease. The game was very evenly matched and Larsson nearly equalised late on when his 20 yard effort skimmed the top of the bar. Final score 0-1.
(W D L F A Pts)
Group A
1. France--1 0 0 3 0 3
2. Italy----0 1 0 0 0 1
3. Ukraine--0 1 0 0 0 1
4. Belguim -0 0 1 0 3 0
Group B
1. Greece -0 1 0 1 1 1
2. Holland--0 1 0 1 1 1
3. Czech---0 1 0 0 0 1
4. Germany-0 1 0 0 0 1
Group C
1. Norway----1 0 0 2 1 3
2. Portugal---1 0 0 1 0 3
3. England----0 0 1 1 2 0
4. Yugoslavia-0 0 1 0 1 0
Group D
1. Spain----1 0 0 1 0 3
2. Denmark-0 1 0 0 0 1
3. Turkey--0 1 0 0 0 1
4. Sweden-0 0 1 0 1 0
Leading Goalscorers
Henry---2
Machlas-1
Kluivert--1
Solskjaer-1
Carew---1
Beckham-1
Nadal----1
Results for second games will come later today.