France will open their campaign in the 14th Euro Cup Football tournament against England at the Donbass Arena, Donetsk, Ukraine on Monday (June 11). This group D match will start at 21.30 hours (IST).
This will be the 29th international match between the two teams and third in European Cup finals.
England have won 16, lost eight and draw four in 28 previous international matches against France. They scored 66 and conceded 35 goals in these matches.
Though France have a poor record against England in international matches, but they are unbeaten against England in the European Championship. They knocked England out of the 1964 tournament in the qualifying rounds, drew 0-0 in a group game at the 1992 finals and beat their old rivals 2-1 in 2004 in Portugal.
The French are also unbeaten against England in their last five meetings, winning the last three games. Their last defeat was a 1-0 reverse in Montpellier in 1997 at the Tournoi de France.
Since a disastrous World Cup in 2010 and two defeats immediately afterwards, France have embarked on a run of 21 matches without defeat, including 15 victories.
Though England have a poor record against France in the European Cup , they have fared well at World Cup finals, beating the French at the 1966 and 1982 finals.
Since losing to France at Wembley in a friendly in November 2010, England have lost just one of 12 matches, a 3-2 home defeat by Netherlands in February this year.
England’s record at European finals is hardly outstanding. In four of their last six European Championship, they have gone out at the group stage. They have won just six of 21 matches at those finals.
The second match of the day will be played between Ukraine and Sweden at Olympic Stadium, Kiev in Ukraine. This group D match will start at 00.15 hours (IST).
This will be the fourth international match between the two teams and first in European Cup finals.
Sweden have won one, lost one and draw one in three previous matches against Ukraine. They scored two and conceded two gaols in these matches.
Ukraine are playing in a European Cup finals for the first time and, as joint hosts, did not have to qualify.
Ukraine’s only other major tournament experience was at the 2006 World Cup in Germany where they reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 to Italy.
Ukraine do not have an exceptional home record. Though unbeaten in the last three matches they have hosted, they have lost four of the last eight and lost 1-0 to Greece in their last competitive match, a World Cup qualifier in Donetsk in November 2009.
Sweden have won their last four friendlies and qualified after winning eight out of 10 matches in their group.
Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic arrives on great form, scoring in each of their last three matches. He was top scorer in Serie A this season, netting 28 goals for AC Milan.
Apart from reaching the semi-finals when playing at home in the 1992 tournament, Sweden have not fared well at Euro finals. Since 1992 they have appeared at three finals and won just two of 10 matches.
EUROPEAN CUP FOOTBALL:
ENGLAND V FRANCE:
HEAD TO HEAD:
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:
Played: 28
England won: 16
France won: 8
Drawn: 4
Goals for England: 66
Goals for France: 35
EUROPEAN CUP MATCHES:
Played: 2
England won: –
France won: 1
Drawn: 1
Goals for England: 1
Goals for France: 2
UKRAINE V SWEDEN:
HEAD TO HEAD:
INTERNATIONAL MATCHES:
Played: 3
Sweden won: 1
Ukraine won: 1
Drawn: 1
Goals for Sweden: 2
Goals for Ukraine: 2
First meeting in European Cup finals