Group B Roundup

Beckham says he'll continue to take penalties for England

LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- England captain David Beckham said Tuesday he would continue as the team's penalty-taker despite missing one against France in their opening European Championship match.

England was leading 1-0 when Beckham had his penalty saved by former Manchester United teammate Fabien Barthez on Sunday at Lisbon's Stadium of Light. Zinedine Zidane scored twice in injury time to give France a 2-1 win.

It was Beckham's second consecutive penalty miss for England. Against Turkey in Istanbul last October, Beckham slipped and sent his spot kick over the bar as England drew 0-0 in its final Euro 2004 qualifier.

When asked if he would continue as penalty taker, the Real Madrid midfielder replied: "Without a doubt."

"When I've missed one before in the past, whether for Manchester United or England, I've always said that I'll carry on doing it.

"I'm confident enough to overcome anything and carry on. There's always pressure taking penalties, whether it's on the Hackney Marshes (in London) or in the World Cup final," Beckham said. "I'll put myself up again and take another one."

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has no problems with Beckham taking penalties.

"If David feels that he doesn't want to do it any more, then we will pick someone else," Eriksson said on Monday. "But if he feels that he is still the best, then he will carry on. I don't have any worries about him."

England is bottom of Group B after Switzerland and Croatia played a 0-0 draw earlier on Sunday. England plays the Swiss on Thursday in Coimbra.

Beckham said the team's morale had improved.

"It's my responsibility to walk around the hotel with a big smile on my face and not worry about what's happened in the last game," Beckham said. "I can assure you that the players are in good moods.

"If we don't get a result against Switzerland we need, we're out, the players know that. But the players can't actually wait to get this game started.

"From the word go we have to try and hit them as hard as we can and use the frustration from the other night with our team and obviously with them drawing, they'll be looking to come forward. As soon as the whistle goes, we'll want to attack them.

"We're going into this game thinking that we're playing the French again."

Beckham sat out training on Tuesday with blisters on his feet, a discomfort also sustained by Steven Gerrard and Sol Campbell, but all three will be fit for the Swiss.

Paul Scholes is having treatment on his twisted ankle and remains doubtful, while Nicky Butt was ruled out of tournament Tuesday with a knee injury.

Butt ruled out of Euro 2004; Scholes promising

LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt is out of Euro 2004 without even playing after suffering a knee injury in training, but Paul Scholes could be fit for Switzerland.

Butt injured his right knee in shooting practice on Monday and a scan revealed medial collateral ligament damage, chief England spokesman Colin Gibson said Tuesday.

Gibson said the injury would take three to four weeks to heal and Butt planned to stay with the England squad.

England plays Switzerland on Thursday in Coimbra, needing a win after its 2-1 injury-time loss to France left the side in last place in Group B.

Butt was expected to be a contender to replace injured club colleague Paul Scholes, who twisted his ankle against France.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said he was disappointed for Butt, who made the squad despite struggling to start for Manchester United last season.

"He hasn't had a lucky season, I must say so it's a pity," Eriksson said. "He is almost for sure out of the rest of tournament, but the good thing is he will not miss preseason and doesn't require an operation."

England captain David Beckham said Butt's injury was "upsetting".

"Having a player like Nicky Butt in the squad is very important," he said.

Eriksson said Scholes had improved and was 50-50 to play.

"I think he will play but I'm not sure," Eriksson said. "The decision will be taken after practice tomorrow."

Ledley King is likely to lose his place in central defense against the Swiss despite a strong showing against France in only his second international start. King played after Chelsea's John Terry failed to recover from a hamstring injury.

"John Terry will be there," Eriksson said. "Yesterday he did everything and today he did everything. He looked fit and sharp."

Beckham sat out of Tuesday practice with blisters on his feet. Steven Gerrard and Sol Campbell are also fighting the same problem.

UEFA said it would prohibit England from bringing in a new player to take Butt's place on the 23-man squad unless there are more injuries.

"In the case of one injury, nothing can be done," said UEFA spokesman William Gaillard.

In 1996, Germany was plagued with injuries and allowed to bring in an extra player. It went on to win the title.

Harmonious French camp differs from World Cup 2002

SANTO TIRSO, Portugal (AP) -- At the last World Cup, factions split the French camp in half, the captain would not speak up and the result was a calamitous first-round exit.

At Euro 2004, the smiling French faces, sense of good will and tight unity among the current crop of players could not be in starker contrast.

"We have a strong spirit and humility in the team," coach Jacques Santini said ahead of France's upcoming group B match against Croatia.

Robert Pires, who stars on the right of France's brilliant midfield quartet, says the players are "lucid" and "mentally strong."

"We have the team to go far," the Arsenal star said.

When Santini picked up the pieces of France's World Cup disaster, the players were demoralized and almost lost to Cyprus as Les Bleus began their Euro 2004 qualifying round.

"I sensed there was a lack of confidence, they were tense," Santini said.

The extent to which Santini has rebuilt fragile morale was highlighted in the dramatic 2-1 win against England on Sunday, when Zinedine Zidane scored twice in injury time.

France simply could not lose, and face up to another opening match loss.

"We never doubted once," Santini said, as did Zidane.

The shock defeat to Senegal at the World Cup in 2002 was reflected in the player's faces. David Trezeguet looked mortified, Thierry Henry walked around in a daze. Others walked around in small circles, heads bowed.

At Monday's training camp in Santo Tirso, Trezeguet and Henry jogged side by side in the sunlight, the smile's beaming off their faces.

Laughter could be heard, while rising stars like Jerome Rothen chatted freely to elder statesmen like Marcel Desailly. In Santini's group, everyone has their place, regardless of experience and reputation.

Only Zidane looked serious -- but he usually does. Being the best player in the world is a serious job.

Meanwhile, Santini strolled around, hardly saying a word.

This is one of Santini's strengths. He trusts his team to do the job without burdening them with rhetoric and Churchillian speeches.

Former coach Roger Lemerre, who won Euro 2000, was more intrusive and often had a clumsy approach -- sometimes upsetting players.

Goalkeeper Gregory Coupet recalls a public chastisement from Lemerre.

"Lemerre criticized my way of life," Coupet told France Football magazine. "He once said to me, in front of everyone: 'You have too much energy, someone should cut you down to size."'

"I took it very badly."

In a DVD highlighting France's successful 2001 Confederations Cup campaign, Lemerre is seen to heavily criticize fullback Willy Sagnol -- explaining his weaknesses in front of the whole squad.

Sagnol sits there, red-faced with anger, arms folded, unable to believe his ears.

Coupet says Santini is much easier to get along with.

"It's a shame he is going," he said. "I feel at ease with him. He is easy to talk to."

Santini will leave the national team to coach English Premier side Tottenham Hotspur after France's Euro 2004 campaign ends.

He says the harmony in the camp was well highlighted after Zidane scored his winning goal against England.

"It was one of those moments that sticks in the mind forever," Santini said. "Zidane came running to the bench to share his joy with the team. Everyone on the bench was hugging each other."

Santini calls this "serenity." So far, it has served him well.

Henry is playing well, Santini says

SANTO TIRSO, Portugal (AP) -- France coach Jacques Santini says he is not worried about the form of Thierry Henry, while captain Zinedine Zidane feels the striker is being played out of position.

Although Henry won a late penalty in the 2-1 win over England in Group B of the European Championship on Sunday, he looked out of sorts in a more central role and hardly troubled the English defense.

Henry has not scored for France this year, but Santini maintains the Arsenal forward will still be a major threat when the defending champions face Croatia on Thursday.

"Thierry is playing well, he did some nice things against England," Santini said. "I did not sense a worried player. He is a leader, although maybe he puts added pressure on himself."

But Zidane, who struck twice in injury time to break English hearts at the Stadium of Light, insists Henry should be returned to a free-roaming role which he uses to such devastating effect for Premier League champion Arsenal.

Under close marking, Henry can look stifled and is less effective than David Trezeguet with his back to goal.

"We looked better in the second half (against England) when Thierry was moving out to the wing more," said Zidane, who now has 25 international goals.

The Real Madrid midfielder added that when Henry drops back "to pick up the ball and run at defenders," he becomes a greater threat.

France has traditionally been more successful with Henry drifting in from the wing and strike partner Trezeguet staying in the fixed central role. In the first half against England, the roles were reversed and the pair did not seem to click.

Although Henry has 25 goals for France, he has never received an assist from Zidane -- one of the best passers in the world. By contrast, several of Trezeguet's 28 national team goals have been created by the mercurial Zidane.

The fact that Zidane has yet to find the same level of complicity with Henry remains a mystery, but midfielder Patrick Vieira tried to explain why.

"Thierry likes to drop very deep and then make his runs," Vieira said. "When he gets the ball, he often plays a one-two with Zidane near halfway and then runs at defenders.

"David is more central, he moves less and it is easier to pick him out."

France leads Group B and could all but ensure qualification for the quarterfinals by beating 1998 World Cup semifinalist Croatia in Lieira.

However, Santini is urging French followers not to get carried away just yet, and says sometimes the expectation on his team is excessive.

"The fans want us to win 3- or 4-nil, no matter which team we are playing against," he said.

But perhaps Santini is partly to blame. In 25 matches in charge, France has lost only once, conceded just nine goals -- including one in the last 12 games -- and remains undefeated in 19.

The iron will of stars like Zidane, the team's remarkable composure under pressure and a sheer refusal to throw in the towel are hallmarks of a great team, which will look to clinch its third European title on July 4.

"We are only concerned with what we have to do," Santini said. "We have the potential, the spirit, the humility, to feel we can always find that something extra.

"There will always be leaders in this team to show us the way."

If Henry rediscovers his scoring touch against Croatia, Santini's team will be even more menacing.

Meanwhile, France's reserve players beat local team Deportivo de Aves 4-0 in a friendly match in Guimares.

Marcel Desailly appeared to have fully shaken off his lingering knee injury and completed the short match without trouble. Louis Saha scored twice, with Sylvain Wiltord and Steve Marlet also on target.

Terry set to return to England lineup

LISBON, Portugal (AP) -- Chelsea defender John Terry is set to return to the England starting lineup for its second European Championship match against Switzerland on Thursday.

Terry missed England's 2-1 injury time loss to France on Sunday with a hamstring injury. His place was taken by Tottenham's Ledley King, who impressed in only his second international start.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said despite King's strong performance, he would most likely start on the bench for the match in Coimbra.

"Is there no reason to leave King out? You are right -- but there is also absolutely no reason to keep Terry out if he is fit," Eriksson said.

"It is a good problem but Ledley will not be that disappointed. Disappointed, but he will understand that."

Eriksson said he was impressed with King's ability to adapt quickly.

"You tell him certain things and he does them," Eriksson said. "The game he played in Portugal for us in February was fantastic and he did well again on Sunday."

Paul Scholes is the major injury worry for Thursday's game with an ankle problem and is rated only 50-50 by Eriksson. Nicky Butt injured his knee in training on Thursday and is also doubtful, leaving Bayern Munich's Owen Hargreaves as the likely starter alongside David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in midfield.

Storm heading Switzerland's way, warns Beckham

LISBON (Reuters) -- Captain David Beckham says England will be pounding Switzerland right from kickoff in Thursday's Euro 2004 clash as they vent their frustration following the agonising defeat by France.

England's 2-1 injury-time loss to the European champions on Sunday has left them in desperate need of three points as they try to qualify from Group B.

"From the word go, we're going to try and hit them as hard as we can," Beckham told a news conference on Tuesday.

"Obviously, there will still be frustration from the other night for our team and with them drawing (0-0 with Croatia), they'll be looking to come forward.

"We are definitely looking forward to playing this game... and to attacking them as soon as the whistle goes."

Beckham said England would treat the Swiss as if they were European champions in Coimbra, aware that defeat would make it very difficult for them to progress in the tournament.

"We're going into this game thinking we're playing the French again," said the midfielder.

"We're not taking lightly any team we come up against. We know every game in our group now is a tough one and we have to win.

"If we don't perform and don't get the result we need we're out of the competition."

England enjoyed huge support in Sunday's game at the Estadio da Luz and Beckham knows that millions back home are counting on his side to show their fighting spirit.

"That's what's good about being English, because the English mentality is to come back straight away and want to prove people wrong," he said.

"If you can do that you're loved in the country. It's what people like to see -- teams bouncing back from things and that's what we're aiming to do on Thursday."

Beckham accepted his role as captain was to rally the troops after Sunday's heartbreak and he insisted that team morale was back to normal.

"As a captain it's my job now to walk around the hotel with a big smile on my face and not worry about what's happened in the last game," he said.

"Players need to feel lifted...and I can assure that all the players now are in good moods."

Admiring Beckham to frame Zidane's shirt

LISBON (Reuters) -- David Beckham plans to frame the shirt worn by Zinedine Zidane when the French captain scored his two injury-time goals to sink England 2-1 at Euro 2004.

However, Beckham, the England captain, will wait until his Real Madrid team mate has time to sign the shirt.

Recalling the scene after Sunday's final whistle, Beckham told reporters: "We said a few things in Spanish and swapped shirts ... He had a smile to say 'that's the way it goes'."

Asked what he would do with the shirt, the England skipper said: "I'll frame it and put it in my house. You have great memories of a great player and memories are good.

"You always look back on things and sometimes it's good to have disappointing memories so you can look forward to the better ones ahead of you."

Paying tribute to Zidane's attitude to the game, Beckham said: "He loves playing and loves training, he works as hard in training as he does in matches and that's what is good to see about players like that. They don't just do it in games.

"I'm proud to be in the same team as him."

Both men faced the responsibility of taking a penalty on Sunday. Beckham's was brilliantly saved by Fabien Barthez but Zidane crashing his past David James to secure an improbable victory in the final seconds.

Unfazed by having missed a spot-kick which could have given England a match-winning 2-0 lead, Beckham said he would be happy to keep taking them -- even if he kept missing.

NO DEFEAT

"Nothing will defeat me. That's the way I look at things," he said. "Even if I miss the next four or five penalties, then I'd step up and take one. I'm not sure people would want me to though.

"Maybe if I'd taken four and missed four, then I'd let someone like Frank Lampard take it instead -- maybe I wouldn't have any choice."

Beckham is now focusing on Thursday's Group B game against Switzerland at Coimbra and channelling the players' fury at having let a priceless victory against the European champions slip away.

"The anger is the good part for the players now," he said. "It's not anger where we want to go out and kick players.

"It's anger where we want to win games, and make people believe in us.

"All the players know that you have to stay concentrated for the whole 90 minutes, and more. It's a lesson for us, but a good lesson, as hopefully it won't happen again."

Future Spurs boss Santini impressed by King

SANTO TIRSO, Portugal (AP) -- Jacques Santini says he is impressed with England's Ledley King and looks forward to working with the Tottenham Hotspur defender next season.

France coach Santini will join the Premier League side as coach after Euro 2004.

He called King "a top-class player" with a strong head for the big occasion.

Although England lost its group B opener 2-1 to France at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, King put on an excellent performance and largely contained France's star forward Thierry Henry.

"This match will help me as a reference for the future," Santini said. "To play a match of this caliber, the fact that Eriksson trusted him for the match and thinks he is god enough, shows he can play at the top level."

However, Santini refused to speculate on how he will approach the Spurs job next season.

"Tottenham is very far away for the time being," he said. The club finished 14th last season and has struggled to match North-London neighbor Arsenal's success in recent years.

Meanwhile, France looks to extend its unbeaten record to 20 matches when it faces 1998 World Cup semifinalist Croatia in Lieira on Thursday.

Under Santini, France has lost just once in 25 matches and not since February last year -- a 2-0 defeat to the Czech Republic.

Santini has few injury worries as table-topping France looks to all but guarantee qualification for the quarterfinals with a win over Croatia.

Claude Makelele could be doubtful for the match. The Chelsea midfielder underwent medical tests on Tuesday after injuring his collarbone against England.

Swiss can threaten England, says Henchoz

OBIDOS, Portugal (Reuters) -- Swiss defender Stephane Henchoz believes his team will raise their game and pose a real threat to England's Euro 2004 hopes in Coimbra on Thursday.

Henchoz, who plays for Liverpool alongside England's Michael Owen, Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, knows a Swiss victory would probably spell the end of their opponents' campaign.

"I think we can surprise a few people," Henchoz told reporters.

Switzerland have the upper hand heading into the Group B game having picked up a point from their dull 0-0 draw with Croatia on Sunday, while England lost 2-1 to France.

A Swiss win, providing France are not beaten by Croatia in Leiria, would end England's hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals and Henchoz feels a shock is possible if Switzerland can find their scoring boots.

"England have got to attack us, they have got to get their first win," added Henchoz, a second-half substitute against Croatia and likely to be on the bench again.

"If we can resist their initial pressure then we can look to play ourselves," he added. "But we need to score goals and that will be difficult against England.

"But we shouldn't forget that to take a point from the game would leave us in a good position. To do that we need to improve from the Croatia game."

Henchoz watched on television as Gerrard struck an under-hit back-pass in injury time to hand France the penalty that sunk England.

"England were very unlucky and they would have won if they had not missed the penalty," said Henchoz, referring to the second-half spot-kick missed by captain David Beckham. "That would have pushed France out of it.

"It was high quality game but we can raise our game (to that level) when we have to.

"To play with 10 men and come away with a point against Croatia has to be a good result for us, so we have something to build on."

Swiss coach Koebi Kuhn is also optimistic despite a lack of goals from his misfiring squad.

"I'm mindful we can get something out of this match," he said. "We've got a good record against England.

"I think England losing is the perfect result for us. It puts pressure on England because they have no points. They have to attack and that gives us an opportunity if we can counter attack effectively. That must be our aim."

Holding midfielder Johann Vogel is suspended after his dismissal against Croatia and Fabio Celestini is the man likely to replace him. Midfielder Ricardo Cabanas is also available after suspension.

James wants more of the same from England

LISBON (Reuters) -- Goalkeeper David James insists there is no danger of England underestimating Switzerland in Thursday's battle to stay in Euro 2004.

Though England will be runaway favourites in the Group B game in Coimbra, another defeat after Sunday's 2-1 loss to holders France would seal a calamitous exit.

"If we take any team lightly in this tournament we'll be out," James told a news conference on Tuesday.

"We can't afford to assume that Switzerland aren't going to be any good because obviously they're in the tournament.

"Portugal were arguably supposed to win that opening game against Greece quite comfortably and ended up losing (2-1) so nothing can be taken lightly."

England played their hearts out on Sunday, only to have them broken by France captain Zinedine Zidane's double strike in stoppage time at the Luz stadium.

"We take heart from the fact that the performance against France for the main part was very very good," James said.

"A reproduction of that in the next two games and I'm sure, unless we get some serious bad luck, we'll get the two wins we're after."

However, James made it clear England would gladly sacrifice the quality of their football to get three points before next week's final game against Croatia, who drew 0-0 with the Swiss.

"It's about winning, whichever way," James said.

NO POINTS

"As good as the performance was against France, it got us no points. If the performance on Thursday is rubbish and we win we'll be happy."

As for himself, James said: "I want to be goalkeeper of the tournament. Thomas Sorensen (of Denmark) had a very good game the other day so it's going to be a bit harder than I anticipated.

"I want to play my best and this is the perfect platform...I'm 33 years old and it's not as if there are going to be too many more (tournaments)."

James's determination to overcome Sunday's setback with a win against the Swiss was echoed by the man standing in front of him in England's defence, Sol Campbell.

"That game has gone now," Campbell said. "It was a bit difficult to swallow that, with how it happened. One minute it's there, and two or three minutes (later) we'd lost.

"You've just got to be resolute in those situations. Hopefully, we'll get the rub of the green next time."

"We're professional footballers and we've got a job to do, we've got to win against Switzerland. We've got to make this count and I'm sure we will," he added.

Celestini favored to replace Vogel in Swiss team

OBIDOS, Portugal (Reuters) -- Fabio Celestini is likely to replace the suspended Johann Vogel in Switzerland's midfield for the match with England in Coimbra on Thursday after skipping training along with the rest of the first team players.

Coach Koebi Kuhn's expected starting 11 spent Tuesday morning relaxing at their resort hotel near Obidos as Vogel trained with the reserves at the Praia D'El Rey training camp.

Vogel is banned for the Group B game after being sent off in Sunday's 0-0 draw with Croatia in Leiria.

Celestini was the only member of the squad who did not start against Croatia to miss training. He is the man likely to fill the holding role in midfield against England.

"They need to rest, that is most important for them after the game on Sunday," Kuhn said about those who missed training.

"We face a match against one of the best teams in the championship so it will be very difficult for us. We know that."

Goalkeeper Sebastien Roth did train on Tuesday after joining up with the squad for the first time.

Roth was drafted in at the last moment on Saturday, after third choice keeper Fabrice Borer of Grasshoppers broke his arm in training, and he flew into Lisbon late on Monday.

On Saturday the Swiss FA were unable to contact Roth, who will cover for Joerg Stiel and Pascal Zuberbuehler, and had to send out a message on television asking him to get in touch.

He was alerted by staff at a restuarant were he was dining and trained with the squad for the first time on Tuesday.

Croatia to rest big names against France

COUCO, Portugal (Reuters) -- France's comeback win over England has altered Croatia's approach to their Euro 2004 game against the champions and several players are likely to be rested.

Assistant coach Drazen Ladic said on Tuesday that France's 2-1 Group B victory put a different complexion on the point Croatia earned from a 0-0 draw with 10-man Switzerland.

"Our point looks okay now," Ladic told a news conference at the team's base deep in the Portuguese countryside.

"It is not now so imperative to win against France, it is more important not to lose. We always felt the last match against England would be decisive and that is still true."

Coach Otto Baric has a full squad to choose from for the game in Leiria on Thursday, including Juventus defender Igor Tudor who is back from suspension.

After collecting five yellow cards in the bad-tempered match against the Swiss, the coach will shuffle his pack to avoid suspensions and ensure he has his best players available for the England game.

"The coach is definitely thinking about saving some players," said Ladic, who was the Croatian goalkeeper at Euro 96 and in the 1998 World Cup.

"For sure he is going to save one or two but many of our key players have been cautioned so it is not easy to decide."

Striker Dado Prso and midfielder Ivica Mornar were booked for diving, midfielder Milan Rapaic for handball just after coming on as a substitute, and left back Boris Zivkovic and midfielder Nenad Bjelica were cautioned for fouls.

Ladic said the Croatian squad had been impressed by the individual discipline of the French and English teams, adding that they would have to match it to get anything from the remaining two games.

"They both played quickly and physically but what we particularly noticed was the way each player has his own particular role and sticks to it," he said.

"We have to be realistic, both teams have better quality than us. They play very fast with fast passes and don't have too many touches. It is very modern play.

"We have to match them. We have to play against France as England did -- quickly."

Croatia have played France three times, losing all three matches, including the 1998 World Cup semi-final.

Ladic, who was in goal for that Paris encounter, said it was impossible to compare the two games.

"There are different circumstances," he said. "We were in a state of euphoria then and being a knock-out situation it was a different atmosphere.

"This time it's a group game and if it doesn't go our way we have another chance."

Swiss pin down England with voodoo campaign

ZURICH (Reuters) -- Swiss fans have taken to voodoo to pin down England ahead of their Euro 2004 match on Thursday.

"Join in -- give the English pains in their legs on June 17 against Switzerland," said the newspaper campaign which shows an effigy of England captain David Beckham with nails, screws and tacks stuck in his legs.

"This might help: Rip out this page, stick it to the wall, give it a good going-over with nails, needles and the stapler. And believe in it," said the advertisement, a tongue-in-cheek campaign to promote Swiss advertising agencies.

England captain Beckham broke a bone in his foot in 2002 just before the World Cup although he played in the tournament.

Pires won't brag to Arsenal teammates

SANTO TIRSO, Portugal (AP) -- Robert Pires won't brag about France's European Championship win over England when he joins his Arsenal teammates for preseason training.

Pires, who started alongside Arsenal teammates Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira on Sunday in the Group B match, played against fellow Gunners Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole as France scored two injury-time goals to win 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.

"I haven't spoken to Sol or Ashley yet," Pires said Monday. "They were devastated after the match, so it's best to leave it.

"There were a few words and a few looks at each other on the pitch, but not much was said."

Pires says Arsenal's French stars will favor the sensitive approach when club players from both nations return to training.

"We will say nothing to them, we will not brag about it. It's not our style," Pires said. "They were defending their colors and we were defending ours. It will be kind and gentle in training."

However, Pires says he will not be able to help himself when it comes to telling left-back Cole how he nutmegged him down the left during the first half.

"I will remind him of that one for sure," Pires said. "I was pleased with that, I liked it very much."

France is now the heavy favorite to win Group B. The defending champions next face Croatia in Lieira on Thursday, while last-place England needs to bounce back against Switzerland.

Pires, who trained lightly Monday while the reserves played a friendly against a local team, says he will try to rest before taking on Croatia.

The intensity of France's win against fierce rival England left his nerves frayed and his adrenalin pumping long into the night.

"I didn't get to sleep until 5:30 in the morning," he said. "I couldn't switch off, so I put the television on and watched the NBA (basketball) finals between Detroit (Pistons) and the (Los Angeles) Lakers.

"Detroit won. It was a good game."

Both the Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.