Euro 2012: Counting Down the Men of the Match from France vs. England

This is the seventh installment of a tournament-long series in which I pick three men from each side that could contend for Man of the Match for each game. The three players from each side will be ranked third place, runner-up and Man of the Match, with a Man of the Match of the whole game picked at the end. Happy Euros!

The last group of the tournament, Group D, kicked off with high-flying France face off against an injury plagued England.

England had been hit by multiple injuries in the weeks leading up to the tournament, and many questions had been asked of the Three Lions' ability to be effective. Youngsters Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck got the nod in the starting lineup; would they be able to impose themselves against the likes of Franck Ribery and Karim Benzema?

France looked dangerous coming into the Euros—undefeated in 21 matches—and looking to have exorcised the 2010 World Cup demons. Their starting lineup was one of the strongest, on paper, that France had fielded in recent memory and looked to give England a rough time of it.

Both teams started off feeling each other out, moving the ball effectively.

France started probing first, with Samir Nasri and Franck Ribery creating darting runs in and around the English defense. It was England, however, who had the best chance in the opening minutes. On a counter, James Milner took a through ball up the middle, dribbled around French keeper Hugo Lloris, but failed to hit the target, slotting the ball wide of the open net. 

Wayne Rooney would've taken the chance.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was England who got the first goal. Captain Steven Gerrard took a free kick from the right side; the ball floated into the French penalty box, found Joleon Lescott's quite prodigious forehead and bounced into the net right past Lloris.

The score was 1-0 England, and English hearts were lifted. Were the replacements paying off?

France continued to look dangerous after the England goal, and their concise passing around the penalty area paid off in the 39th minute. After a series of passes, Franck Ribery laid the ball off for Samir Nasri—both of whom looked dangerous all game—who blasted a shot into Joe Hart's near post. 

The scores were level again, and you have to say a French goal was forthcoming—it was just a question of when.

France controlled the remainder of the half, with the same short, cutting passes around the English penalty box that looked so threatening, and the score would stay 1-1 going into the half.

The match was a little bit more even in the opening minutes of the second half, with France a little bit more cautious, due to England's ability to counterattack. England pressed a little bit more than the first half, with Glen Johnson making runs down the right flank and Steven Gerrard and Scott Parker creating chances in the midfield.

The game stayed like this—both sides efficiently attacking—until the whistle was blown and the spoils were shared. France and England survived the encounter with a point apiece.

Here are my Men of the Match from France vs. England. 

Runner-Up, France: Franck Ribéry

Franck Ribéry was dangerous all day, making runs up the right side all afternoon. He shared a certain chemistry with fellow attackers Samir Nasri and Karim Benzema that shredded the English defense in the first half. 

He supplied the lay-back pass that set up France's equalizing goal by Nasri.

This type of passing typified France's attack on the night, and Franck Ribéry was behind it all. 

Runner-Up, France: Samir Nasri

Samir Nasri was also extremely dangerous for France, playing off of the concise passing of everyone around him, especially Franck Ribéry.

Nasri's 39th-minute strike claimed a point for France, sending a hard, low show into the near side of Joe Hart's net. 

Although he quieted down a little in the second half, Nasri still represented a threat for the French attack. 

Man of the Match, France: Mathieu Debuchy

Even though Samir Nasri clinched the point for France, it was Mathieu Debuchy who impressed the most for France.

France's second-choice right-back—after Bacary Sagna broke his leg in the spring—Mathieu Debuchy was expected to fill in and perform. 

Debuchy was extremely efficient in not only stopping the runs of Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Steven Gerrard and the like, but he also was one of their best attackers.

He made runs up the right flank and through the middle of the park, and got himself involved in the French attack. 

Debuchy was the most consistent French player out there today. 

Runner-Up, England: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the 18-year-old Arsenal winger, impressed in his European Championships debut. He showed the flair and pace that impressed Arsene Wenger at the beginning of this past season. 

Ox was able to move around the midfield on the left side, linking up with the other English midfield players and create numerous chances down the flank. 

If he had been given the full 90 minutes, he might have given England a better chance of getting a winning goal. 

Runner-Up, England: Joleon Lescott

Joleon Lescott, the other Manchester City man to get a goal today, got his goal using his gigantic forehead. 

He also had a pretty solid game in England's backfield, disrupting the French attack often and efficiently. 

Man of the Match, England: Glen Johnson

Glen Johnson played much the same role for England as Mathieu Debuchy played for France.

Johnson simultaneously had a great defensive game—constantly denying Franck Ribery on the right side—and was one of England's best attackers. 

Much as he does for Liverpool, Johnson was a constant presence in France's half on the right side, providing cutting passes and crosses for England.

Solid performance from Johnson today. 

Man of the Match: Mathieu Debuchy

Mathieu Debuchy and Glen Johnson were almost carbon copies of one another; however, Debuchy gets top honors for the match due to his ability to create, not only for the rest of the team, but for himself. Defenders seem to rarely take the ball themselves into the box, but Debuchy took on the role of creator from the right flank and performed it well. 

Your Thoughts?

This fellow—and most of England—is happy his team got through a nervy game with a point. Mathieu Debuchy, though, comes out on top with Man of the Match.

Who was your Man of the Match? Let me know in the comments section below!

Happy Euros, and cheers!