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England national football team
International Friendlies
Nov 17, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
France national football team

2-0

Alli (39'), Rooney (48')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Player Ratings: England 2-0 France

Sports Mole looks at who stood out during England's 2-0 victory over France in an international friendly dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Paris attacks.

England picked up their first victory over France since 1997 this evening as they ran out 2-0 winners in an international friendly dedicated to those affected by the Paris terrorist attacks on Friday night.

Dele Alli and Wayne Rooney scored either side of half time to hand the Three Lions the victory, although the result was of secondary importance on an emotional evening at Wembley.

Here, Sports Mole looks at who stood out during the 90 minutes.


England's midfielder Dele Alli (R) celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the friendly football match between England and France at Wembley Stadium in west London on November 17, 2015© Getty Images

ENGLAND

Goal

Joe Hart: Had a couple of relatively routine saves to make and was off his line quickly to thwart Cabaye before being brought off at half time to give Butland time on the field. (7/10)

Defence

Nathaniel Clyne: Always eager to get forward and was often a useful attacking outlet for England down the right. His final ball did let him down at times, though, while he struggled with Martial on one or two occasions. (7/10)

Gary Cahill: Solid performance at the heart of the defence, although he didn't have an awful lot to do. May need to shine a little more for club and country if he is to hold on to a starting role going into Euro 2016. (6/10)

John Stones: Was also rarely troubled defensively, but coped with everything that did come his way. A breath of fresh air in being able to carry the ball out from the back, and his composure in possession was evident throughout. It would have been nice to see how he coped against the more attentive pressing of Spain. (7/10)

Kieran Gibbs: Like Clyne on the opposite flank, got forward readily and offered his side a good presence in the opposition half. (7/10)

Midfield

Dele Alli: Very impressive. Scored his first goal for England and, even if he goes on to match Rooney's tally of 51, he may never score a better one. The tackle in the build-up proved that he can do it all in midfield, and he was also involved in the second goal when he dispossessed Pogba. Made one fine challenge to deny Martial in his own box and was a threat coming forward throughout as well. It is important not to get carried away, but it was an almost complete midfield performance, with perhaps the only blot on his copybook being a failure to control Kane's pass that would have sent him through on goal. (9/10)

Eric Dier: Won't grab anywhere near as many headlines as his Tottenham Hotspur teammate alongside him, but is another who looks to have adapted quickly to international football. Gave his defenders good protection, although tougher tests are sure to come in more competitive fixtures. (7/10)

Ross Barkley: The talent is there, but it doesn't always seem to come together for Barkley. He showed glimpses of his quality tonight, but he needs to be given time in this side, preferably directly behind the striker. (7/10)

Raheem Sterling: Arguably England's most potent weapon in the counter-attacking system being used by Hodgson in these friendlies. Grabbed the assist for the second goal with a perfect cross to Rooney. (7/10)

Attack

Wayne Rooney: A bit more like the Rooney we have become accustomed to seeing over the past decade or so. Capped off his best performance for a while with his 51st international goal, extending his record. (8/10)

Harry Kane: Able to have a much bigger say on matters than against Spain on Friday. Came close on two occasions himself and brought those around him into play very well. (8/10)

Substitutes

Jack Butland: A shining star for Stoke this season and is looking more and more like a future first-choice England keeper. Made one fine save to deny Martial having come on at half time, and was commanding when crosses arrived in his area too. (7/10)

Adam Lallana: Replaced Sterling with a little over 20 minutes remaining and showed a few nice touches without producing anything of real substance. (6/10)

Jonjo Shelvey: Came on for Barkley in the 80th minute and didn't have enough time to make a difference. (6/10)

Ryan Bertrand: Also introduced with 10 minutes remaining as England moved to see out the victory. (6/10)

Phil Jones: On for Alli with just a couple of minutes left on the clock. (6/10)


France's midfielder Lassana Diarra (R) comes on to replace France's midfielder Yohan Cabaye (C) during the friendly football match between England and France at Wembley Stadium in west London on November 17, 2015© Getty Images

FRANCE

Goal

Hugo Lloris: Sent one clearance straight to Kane that he got away with, and will feel that he should have done better with Rooney's volley for the second goal too. Was quick off his line on a couple of occasions, though. (6/10)

Defence

Bacary Sagna: Up against his club teammate in Sterling and could not get the better of him, either going forward or at the other end of the field. (6/10)

Raphael Varane: Was given a tough time by the relentless Kane in particular, but still managed to put in a classy display in possession. (7/10)

Laurent Koscielny: Struggled up against Rooney and always seemed to be just a couple of steps off the pace, which had a role to play in both England goals. (6/10)

Lucas Digne: Struggled at times with the overlapping runs of Clyne, but was also keen to get forward himself and offered France a good outlet down the left. (6/10)

Midfield

Morgan Schneiderlin: The 50-50 he lost to Alli in the build-up to the first goal was a microcosm of the midfield battle. He and the majority of the blue shirts around him in the middle of the park were second best. (6/10)

Yohan Cabaye: Unable to have the influence that he so often has had for Crystal Palace this season. Sent one piledriver over the bar and was beaten to the ball by Hart on another occasion. Not much other than that. (6/10)

Blaise Matuidi: One of two players taken off by Deschamps at half time following a fairly uninspiring 45 minutes in midfield, albeit completely understandably under the circumstances. (6/10)

Attack

Hatem Ben Arfa: There were flashes of quality here and there, but it was a typically mercurial performance from the former Newcastle United man. (6/10)

Andre-Pierre Gignac: Unable to offer any sort of an attacking threat for France, getting no change from Stones and Cahill before his withdrawal before the hour mark. (5/10)

Anthony Martial: One of the brighter sparks for France, with a number of threatening runs at the heart of the defence. Squandered the visitors' best chance when he was denied by Butland. (7/10)

Substitutes

Paul Pogba: Quite comfortably France's best player, despite only coming on at half time. Was dispossessed by Alli in the build-up to England's second, but from that point on it was the Pogba show when France had the ball. Created a couple of chances for teammates in addition to coming close himself once or twice. (8/10)

Kingsley Coman: Lively display during his 45-minute cameo, but ultimately he was not able to come up with anything to change the game. (6/10)

Lassana Diarra: Every French player deserves credit for playing tonight, but none more so than Diarra. Was handed just over half an hour only four days after losing his cousin in the terrorist attacks. (7/10)

Olivier Giroud: Was not afford any clear sights of goal during his time on the field, although he did hold the ball up well for those around him. (6/10)

Antoine Griezmann: Another with a very personal connection to the Paris attacks who showed great strength to play tonight. (6/10)

Moussa Sissoko: Handed the final eight minutes with the game all but lost for France already. (6/10)


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Barney Corkhill
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England and France squad members observe a minute's silence before the start of the friendly football match between England and France at Wembley Stadium in west London on November 17, 2015
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