FRANCE (KICKING RIGHT TO LEFT AND IN THE DARK SHIRTS) KICKING OFF IN THE FIRST HALF; BOTH GOALS; AND ENGLAND GOAL BEING DISALLOWED FOR OFFSIDE. THERE IS NATURAL SOUND THROUGHOUT, EXCEPT OVER THE SEQUENCE SHOWING THE FIRST GOAL.




Initials


SPORT: SOCCER
EDITORS: THIS IS FOR SCHEDULED NEWS BULLETINS ONLY. THE SPECIAL F.I.F.A. AGREEMENT WITH THE NEWSFILM AGENCIES STIPULATES THAT NO MORE THAN TWO MINUTES OF ANY ONE MATCH OR MATCHES MAY BE USED IN ANY ONE BULLETIN. THE AGREEMENT FURTHER STIPULATES THAT NONE OF THIS FILM MAY BE SHOWN AFTER AUGUST 29th, 1966.

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Background: THE WORLD CUP: ENGLAND QUALIFIED FOR THE QUARTER FINALS TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY) WHEN THEY BEAT FRANCE 2-0 AT WEMBLEY STADIUM, LONDON.

FRANCE KICKED OFF WITH ONLY A FAINT HOPE OF QUALIFYING. THEY HAD TO BEAT ENGLAND BY A BIG MARGIN TO JOIN URUGUAY AS GROUP ONE'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE LAST EIGHT. THEY WENT FLAT OUT AND SOON HAD ENGLAND'S DEFENDERS AT FULL STRETCH.

ENGLAND HAD A LUCKY ESCAPE WHEN A FLYING HEADER BY HERBIN JUST MISSED THE GOAL NET. BUT THE HOME TEAM - URGED ON BY A CROWD OF 92,000 - FOUND THEIR STRIDE AND SWEPT INTO ATTACK.

THEIR FIRST SUCCESS CAME IN THE 40TH MINUTE WHEN INSIDE-LEFT ROGER HUNT HEADED IN FROM THE REBOUND. AT HALF TIME, IT WAS ENGLAND I, FRANCE O. ENGLAND KICKED OFF IN THE SECOND HALF WITH VICTORY IN THEIR SIGHTS.

DESPITE INJURIES TO TWO OF THEIR PLAYERS, FRANCE FOUGHT BACK AND CAME CLOSE TO EQUALISING WHEN SIMON HEADED A PASS IN THE PENALTY AREA ONLY TO SEE IT PUSHED ROUND THE CORNER BY ENGLAND GOALKEEPER BANKS.

THE STANDARD OF PLAY DROPPED AS THE GAME WORE ON. AND ENGLAND WERE LUCKY TO SCORE THEIR SECOND GOAL. THEY MOVED INTO ATTACK AS A FRENCH PLAYER LAY INJURED ON THE GROUND. CALLAGHAN CENTRED FROM THE FAR WING FOR HUNT TO HEAD IN HIS SECOND GOAL.

ENGLAND FINISHED TOP OF GROUP ONE AND WERE THE ONLY TEAM IN THE 16-NATION COMPETITION NOT TO CONCEDE A GOAL. NOW THEY MEET ARGENTINA IN THE QUARTER-FINAL AT WEMBLEY ON SATURDAY.