Leading 1-0 against France heading into injury time of their opening game at Euro 2004, England had plenty to be cheerful about. This was their toughest assignment, after all, in a group also containing Croatia and Switzerland.
Victory for the Three Lions in front of a stadium packed out with 63,000 supporters, many of whom were of an England contingent, would have been enough to put them well in command to progress through as Group B winners.
Advancing to the knockout rounds is only one part of the equation at the Euros. Finishing in top spot, thus setting up what is perceived to be an 'easier' quarter-final tie, should be the target for a side aiming to lift the trophy.
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Expectation levels heading into the tournament, as ever when England are involved, were extremely high. Excitement peaked for those draped in the St George's Cross around 38 minutes in when Frank Lampard headed home David Beckham's well-delivered free kick to put England ahead to the delight of three quarters of those in attendance.
In what was the three Lions' biggest game since their World Cup quarter-final defeat to Brazil two years prior, things were going just fine in the opening 45 minutes, even before Lampard nodded his side ahead.
All over the field, individual battles were taking place between players who knew each other well. Manchester United stars Fabian Barthez and Mikael Silvestre faced off against Paul Scholes and Gary Neville. Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires were up against Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole.
Yet perhaps the biggest head-to-head battle came in midfield, as Beckham was pitted against fellow Galactico Zinedine Zidane. Both would play their part throughout the dramatic 90-minute tussle, although it was the latter who would ultimately have the bigger say.
An England side containing Ledley King at the back from the start for the first time had little to do in a first half which they just about edged thanks to Lampard's breakthrough. A young Wayne Rooney, a few months shy of joining Man United in a high-profile move, held up the ball superbly to bring others into the game.
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Having conceded a goal for the first time in 11 games, the onus was now very much on France to attack their opponents. Henry came close to levelling up when testing David James with a decent shot on the break, and the Arsenal forward began to grow more and more into the contest.
Perhaps showing signs of tiredness, Sven-Goran Eriksson opted to bring on Darius Vassell for the ineffective Michael Owen, but there was certainly no doubting Rooney's energy levels alongside him up top. The Everton teenager was sent tumbling inside the box by future teammate Silvestre 17 minutes from time, gifting England the perfect chance to effectively seal the points.
Beckham was the man to step up, yet his spot kick was kept out by Barthez, who guessed the right way and managed to raise his arm to push the ball aside. It was just the wake-up call Les Bleus needed heading into the final quarter of the contest in Portugal.
Many inside the stadium - the biggest to be used throughout the competition - would have predicted exactly what was to happen next. Football can prove to be unpredictable and highly predictable in equal measure, and boosted by the penalty save France pushed on and turned the game completely on its head.
First, the imperious Zidane beautifully dispatched a free kick beyond the reach of James on the 90-minute mark, after substitute Emile Heskey needlessly brought down an opponent within shooting range. Jacques Santini's charges were not finished there, either, and they soon turned one salvaged point into all three.
England were now all over the place, with Steven Gerrard inexplicably playing a loose ball back to James, which Henry quickly latched on to. The England stopper had little choice but to bring his onrushing opponent to ground, allowing Zidane to step up and tuck away the resulting penalty to win the game for the current holders right at the very death.
Eriksson's men bounced back well from the crushing defeat, picking up successive wins from their next two outings to finish in second place. They were unable to overcome hosts Portugal in the quarters, however, while France were themselves stunned by eventual winners Greece.
A lot may have changed since that opening group game at Euro 2004, which took place on this day 11 years ago, but the memories still haunt many England fans who saw their side snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
It is a stark reminder that nothing is won or lost until the full-time whistle blows. It is also a reminder that England and penalties at major tournaments simply do not mix.
England: James, Gary Neville, King, Campbell, Ashley Cole, Beckham, Lampard, Gerrard, Scholes (Hargreaves 76), Rooney (Heskey 76), Owen (Vassell 69)
France: Barthez, Gallas, Thuram, Silvestre (Sagnol 79), Lizarazu, Pires (Wiltord 76), Vieira, Makelele, Zidane, Trezeguet, Henry
Daniel Lewis
