"ENGLAND PAY DEARLY FOR SOCCER VICTORY" Sunday Mirror

FRANCE were totally outclassed by England in an interesting international at Highbury, home of Arsenal FC. The fact that the visitors held out until after half-time was mainly due to Da Rui's acrobatics in the French goal.

England were soon pressing forward and enjoyed virtually all the possession in the first 45 minutes. They tended to spoil their approach play, though, by over elaborating in midfield. This gave the French the time to regroup in defence and the visitors did this well.

Da Rui saved well from Tommy Lawton and Tom Finney from England's best efforts of the half, whilst France's only worthwhile shot flew over Frank Swift's crossbar from Lechantre. It was remarkable that the scoreline was still blank at the break, as England had been so much on top.

After the interval, however, England were much more sensible about their passing. Raich Carter and Wilf Mannion began to release the ball much earlier and holes soon began to appear in the rear French rearguard.

After 51 minutes, the breakthrough arrived. A sparkling move involving high-speed passing between Bobby Langton, Carter, Lawton and Mannion ended with Finney taking the final pass in his stride to shoot home a fine goal. It was significant that not one Frenchman had touched the ball in 50 yards.

France hit back briefly when Tempowski forced Swift into a full-length save, but Mannion soon underlined England's superiority with a second goal. Swiatek made a poor clearance and the England number-ten expertly lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and into the net.

Fifteen minutes from the end, Lowe, on a satisfying debut, capped a fine second half for his team by selling the whole French defence a dummy before putting Carter through with a glorious pass for England's third goal.

By this time France were all at sea and only some desperate tackling prevented further goals. Once again, a European challenge had failed on English soil.
   

The selectors continued to dither over whether to play Matthews or Finney. The Preston plumber got the nod this time, making his mark with the first goal in a 3-0 canter against a French team whistled and jeered for their shirt-pulling and spoiling tactics. Wilf Mannion scored the second goal with a delightful lob over French goalkeeper Da Rui, who had kept a blank sheet in the first half with a series of spectacular and unconventional saves. Eddie Lowe, making his debut at left-half, sent three defenders the wrong way with an outrageous dummy before passing the ball into the path of Raich Carter, who coolly slotted home England's third goal.