The wait for an England Men’s major tournament victory goes on, and will likely continue on through the winter of discontent in Qatar. So what can you do with no recent major tournament victories to celebrate? Why, celebrate a minor tournament victory instead! Hurrah for Le Tournoi!

Much like the Umbro Cup 2 years previously, when England were rowing painfully in the competition-free doldrums leading up to Euro ’96, France tried to stir the competitive pot with a meaningless friendly tournament of their own. Le Tournoi de France, translating as “Tournament of France” (maybe they had help from the minds behind the 1991 England Challenge Cup), featured England, France, Italy and Brazil.

4th June, 1997 – England vs Italy

The first set of highlights I found had “My Immortal” by Evanesence as the soundtrack. Yes, we all feel the loss of not having Le Tournoi in our lives anymore, but is the pain that deep? Anyway, it’s a bit of a thrown together England team, courtesy of the good people at eu-football.info:

Where’s Nigel Clough when you need him? Scholes picks up the ball just outside the centre circle in the England half. He spots Ian Wright making a run in behind the Italian defence and clips an excellent long pass over the top for Wright to run on to. It bounces once and Wrighty lashes it into the corner for the opening goal. Simple yet elegant. Graham Taylor approves.

Wright is played in down the left channel. He plays it low into the box and finds Scholes, who hits it first time on his left past a statuesque Peruzzi. Clincal finish.

Shame the Wright/Scholes combo didn’t get more traction, there was the beginning of something there, but their careers just didn’t overlap enough. Still, it all turned out…eh…alright? Is going out on penalties the following year “alright”? Eh.

Highlights: Spanish Commentary version (recommended)

Highlights – My Immortal version: