Michael Mancienne played the full 90 minutes as he helped England Under 21s progress to the European Championship Finals, while Florent Malouda was a late sub for France.

Mancienne, wearing the number six shirt, was deployed as a centre-half for Stuart Pearce's side, who achieved a 2-2 draw - enough to qualify for the Finals in Sweden next June.

He made a timely clearance with five minutes remaining after a Wales shot had struck the foot of the post, sealing the route through at the expense of Rhys Taylor, still only 18, who was an unused substitute for the Welsh.

In a friendly fixture, Fabio Paim was a 69th minute sub for Portugal Under 21s in their home game against Ukraine but his team slipped to defeat with a goal in stoppage time.

In senior football, Malouda was an 83rd minute substitute for France, replacing Thierry Henry in their 3-1 friendly win against Tunisia in Paris.

Henry had previously scored twice, while Karim Benzema hit the other French goal. Nicolas Anelka did not play. As a matter of interest, Blues fans will note that Bordeaux's Yoann Gourcuff played the first 80 minutes.

We travel to France to meet Laurent Blanc's side on November 26.