French and Swiss level at the interval

Switzerland 1 France 1

Switzerland and France were level at half-time in their final Euro 2004 Group D match in Coimbra, a result that would be good enough to see the defending champions reach the last eight.

Zinedine Zidane gave the French the lead after 20 minutes when he headed home a Robert Pires corner for his third goal of the tournament.

But the Swiss hit back six minutes later when 18-year-old Johan Vonlanthen became the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships finals, beating the record set by England’s Wayne Rooney a few days earlier, also at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra.

The French were quickly into their stride and an early move saw Thierry Henry's cross find David Trezeguet, whose shot was deflected behind for a corner.

Henry then outpaced Henchoz but his tame cross was easily gathered by Jorg Stiel, playing possibly his last game for the Swiss.

A fine run by Pires then created a shooting chance for Zinedine Zidane who miscued his shot to the hoots of the Swiss fans.

Sagnol’s pass played in Trezeguet but an offside flag halted the move.

But then a sweeping Swiss move saw Gygax swing in a dangerous ball to the near post where Hakan Yakin fired just wide.

Yakin tried his luck again when the Swiss won a free-kick but Fabien Barthez made a fine save at the expense of a corner.

The French hit back and Lizarazu then surged towards the Swiss goal but his shot was saved by Stiel.

But the champions breathed a sigh of relief when Hakan Yakin tripped over the ball with the goal beckoning.

Then the French won a free-kick when Wicky was penalised for a challenge on Zidane but Henry’s free-kick was deflected over the bar by the wall.

But from the resulting corner France took the lead with Zidane’s third goal of the tournament as he headed in from Pires’ delivery in the 20th minute.

France were visibly lifted and then Pires took another corner which was volleyed by Lizarazu only for a Swiss body to get in the way.

Zidane then surged down the right but his cross eluded Henry and Trezeguet and then Patrick Vieira floated in a ball for Henry who headed over.

Just as it looked as though France might overrun the Swiss the Alpine nation hit back with their first goal of the tournament.

Cabanas surged down the middle and fed Vonlanthen who beat Barthez with a diagonal shot.

That saw the teenage PSV Eindhoven man beat the record set last week by Wayne Rooney as the youngest goalscorer in the finals of the European Championships.

France tried to respond and Henry then released Trezeguet who was onside but Stiel dashed out of his area to clear the danger.

A fine sweeping Swiss move ended with Lilian Thuram making a saving header from Hakan Yakin but inexplicably Slovakian referee Lubos Michel gave a goal kick.

Cabanas then became the first man cautioned for a tug at the shirt of Pires.

Zidane then teed up Henry who headed wide with the goal beckoning in the last real chance of the half