Spain suffer Mario setback

By Andrew Haslam at Stade Jean Leroi

A bizarre own goal from Spanish midfield player Mario enabled hosts France to record their second victory in as many games as they overcame 2003 finalists Spain in Blois.

Semi-final place
Mario turned the ball past goalkeeper Adán midway through the first-half to give France a slender advantage they were never to lose, much to the delight of almost 5,000 spectators. Philippe Bergeroo's side now lead Group A with six points after Tuesday's 3-0 defeat of Northern Ireland and are on the verge of a place in the semi-finals. Spain meanwhile, face Northern Ireland on Sunday needing a win to bolster their own qualification hopes.

Quick start
Despite the partisan crowd Spain were quickly into their stride, with Javier just unable to reach a cross from Marcos. The same player almost broke down the left moments later, but was denied by an alert piece of goalkeeping from Benoît Costil. Hatem Ben Arfa then skilfully burst into the penalty area as France threatened for the first time, but Samir Nasri could not connect with his low cross.

Inadvertent goal
Both sides possess technically-gifted players and French strikers Ben Arfa and Jérémy Menez looked particularly lively early on. But Spain suffered a blow in the 14th minute when César was forced off, replaced by Pedraza, and four minutes later France took the lead in unexpected fashion. The goal stemmed from more good work from Menez inside the penalty area, the forward twisting and turning before crossing and, in trying to clear, Mario could only prod the ball beyond his own goalkeeper.

Marcos misses
Rather than lifting France, the goal galvanised Spain and Carmona sliced a left-footed volley narrowly wide. Marcos then had two gilt-edged opportunities to equalise, first racing on to Mario's defence-splitting pass but sidefooting wide, then lifting the ball over the crossbar after Costil had parried Pedraza's well-struck effort.

Adán stop
France had opportunities to double their lead either side of half-time. With the interval approaching, Ben Arfa skipped past Piqué and raced clear, but Adán astutely narrowed the angle and blocked the striker's shot. French defender Abdelkarim El Mourabet headed narrowly over four minutes after the interval, but it was Spain who began the second half the brighter.

Spanish surge
Juan Santisteban's side went close when Marcos' probing cross from the left found Javier in space, but the striker volleyed wide. Centre-half Piqué then headed substitute Diego's cross over the bar. With time running out, Spain became increasingly desperate in their search for an equaliser and might have scored twice in the closing stages.

Last-gasp drama
Diego sent a shot centimetres wide in the last minute of normal time before the same player created a great opportunity for Piqué deep into injury time. The midfield player's curling left-wing cross picked out the defender unmarked in front of goal, but he put his header wide and the reaction of the Spanish players told its own story.