Fri, 16th Nov 2007
The weekend of international action began on Friday night with Chelsea players employed in an England win and a draw for France.
Both Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge played the full 90 minutes of England's 1-0 away win in Austria, Lampard taking the captain's armband after Steven Gerrard was substituted at half-time.
Our midfielder was prominent throughout the match although it was Joe Cole, another given a rest for the second half, who came the closer to finding the net.
Both Frank Lampard and Wayne Bridge played the full 90 minutes of England's 1-0 away win in Austria, Lampard taking the captain's armband after Steven Gerrard was substituted at half-time.
Our midfielder was prominent throughout the match although it was Joe Cole, another given a rest for the second half, who came the closer to finding the net.
Only a last-ditch block by Austria keeper Alex Manninger prevented a goal after Cole had burst through the defence two minutes before the break with Peter Crouch's follow-up also blocked.
It was from the corner that resulted from the attack that Crouch headed the winning goal.
Manninger was only in goal because Jürgen Macho, the keeper who spent a year as a Chelsea player between 2003 and 2004 without ever making his debut, was carried off after a collision with Crouch. England were struck by their own first-half injury when Michael Owen suffered a thigh strain.
Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips remained on the bench throughout. Claude Makelele played the first-half as France limbered up for their final Euro 2008 qualifier next week with a friendly against Morocco.
The result in the Stade de France was 2-2 but as reported a couple of days ago, Florent Malouda was kept from the game by a knee injury, although he is hopeful of being fit to face Ukraine on Wednesday.
England Under 21s were also in action on Friday night, winning 2-0 against Bulgaria in a European Championship qualifier, although Chelsea's on-loan defender Michael Mancienne was prevented from taking his place in the side by a hamstring injury.
It was from the corner that resulted from the attack that Crouch headed the winning goal.
Manninger was only in goal because Jürgen Macho, the keeper who spent a year as a Chelsea player between 2003 and 2004 without ever making his debut, was carried off after a collision with Crouch. England were struck by their own first-half injury when Michael Owen suffered a thigh strain.
Ashley Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips remained on the bench throughout. Claude Makelele played the first-half as France limbered up for their final Euro 2008 qualifier next week with a friendly against Morocco.
The result in the Stade de France was 2-2 but as reported a couple of days ago, Florent Malouda was kept from the game by a knee injury, although he is hopeful of being fit to face Ukraine on Wednesday.
England Under 21s were also in action on Friday night, winning 2-0 against Bulgaria in a European Championship qualifier, although Chelsea's on-loan defender Michael Mancienne was prevented from taking his place in the side by a hamstring injury.
Two of Chelsea's young players competed for England Under 19s on Wednesday night away in Germany. A run of four consecutive wins at that level came to an end as the young England side lost 1-0.
It was Jack Cork, currently on loan at Scunthorpe, who came closest to preventing defeat in the friendly when his second-half shot was tipped onto the bar. Lee Sawyer also played.
It was Jack Cork, currently on loan at Scunthorpe, who came closest to preventing defeat in the friendly when his second-half shot was tipped onto the bar. Lee Sawyer also played.
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