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France captain Zinedine Zidane struck twice in injury-time to ambush England 2-1 in an extraordinary Euro 2004 showdown on Sunday.

England appeared to be holding on for a 1-0 victory in their opening Group B match before Zidane curled in a free-kick in the first minute of added time and converted a penalty with almost the last kick of the game after England goalkeeper David James brought down Thierry Henry.

France, who had not conceded a goal in nearly a year, dominated the first half before midfielder Frank Lampard headed a 38th-minute David Beckham free kick past goalkeeper Fabien Barthez to put England ahead.

Beckham, the England captain, should have put the result beyond doubt in the 73rd minute after teenage striker Wayne Rooney won a penalty but Barthez brilliantly pushed the shot away.

Both sides lived up to their billing at the Estadio da Luz with Zidane, the World Player of the Year, and his team mates oozing class while England showed commitment and no shortage of skill.

France applied the early pressure, exploiting the pace and dribbling skills of winger Robert Pires in his battle on the right with Paul Scholes playing in an familiar role on England's left.

Their first real chance did not fall until the 15th minute when Patrick Vieira's cross from the right was met by David Trezeguet but the striker's header whistled just over James's crossbar.

France, with Zidane in inspired form and Pires threading the ball through the legs of his Arsenal team mate Ashley Cole in the England defence, were tying knots with their fluid passing football.

But England came back with no shortage of passion until the two bodyblows as the seconds ticked away.

Lampard's goal was the first conceded by France for 1,077 minutes.

Teams:

France (4-4-2): 16-Fabien Barthez; 5-William Gallas, 15-Lilian Thuram, 13-Mikael Silvestre, 3-Bixente Lizarazu; 7-Robert Pires, 4-Patrick Vieira, 6-Claude Makelele, 10-Zinedine Zidane; 12-Thierry Henry, 20-David Trezeguet

England (4-4-2): 1-David James; 2-Gary Neville, 15-Ledley King, 6-Sol Campbell, 3-Ashley Cole; 7-David Beckham, 11-Frank Lampard, 4-Steven Gerrard, 8-Paul Scholes; 9-Wayne Rooney, 10-Michael Owen

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

Linesmen: Christian Schraer (Germany), Jan-Hendrik Salver (Germany)