MONTPELLIER, June 8: England's victory over hosts France here has set up an intriguing battle against Brazil on Tuesday which is likely to decide the winner of this four-nation Tournoi de France.

And England keeper David Seaman, who aggravated a right ankle injury during his impressive display for his 35th cap, was hopeful of earning England's first victory over Brazil for more than seven years.

Gary Lineker's goal in March 1990 in a Wembley friendly came just a few months before England's march to the World Cup semi-finals in Italy.

Alan Shearer's 86th minute goal, after a mistake by keeper Fabien Barthez, meant England have six points from two games following their 2-0 win over Italy earlier.

England coach Glenn Hoddle can now boast six consecutive wins.

Seaman really helped preserve that record with an incredible save from a sweetly struck Pierre Laigle volley with 20 minutes to go.

Shearer, disappointed at not playing against Italy, was clearly hungry for a goal and can be commended for his striker's instinct in being in the right place at the right time when barthez made his error.

However England did have one blemish when midfielder David Beckha lost his cool after he claimed he was wrongly booked for dissent as he walked off the pitch for treatment in the 13th minute.

The 22-year-old Manchester United midfielder received a yellow card from Moroccan referee Said Belqola in the aftermath of a stiff challenge by Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira.

It was also England's first win on French soil for 48 years.

In a finely-balanced match, Shearer stabbed the ball home from a cross from the right by subsitute Teddy Sheringham after a defensive error by the otherwise excellent 'keeper Barthez.

It was skipper Shearer's 16th goal in 34 appearances to help England to their first win in France since a 3-1 win at Colombes in May 1949.

But on a brighter note for the French, striker Christophe Dugarry had a great game, always looking dangerous up front with his teammates continually providing good service. However the finishing of the 25-year-old AC Milan marksman could have been better.

Shearer also had several chances in the match and it was no real surprise when he finally found the net.

But England's Ian Wright should have scored his third goal in consecutive matches just four minutes before the break from a Shearer pass from the left.

Wright looked offside but the flag stayed motionless as he shot against Barthez whose leg deflected the ball over the bar and out of danger.

Then Nicolas Ouedec was nearly in position to score from a Djorkaeff freekick moments before the break.

Paul Ince came on at half-time for David Batty, who had got a yellow card in the first half for a tackle on Vieira.

France, who brought of Patrice Loko for striker Ouedec, had a great opportunity from a Youri Djorkaeff free kick. Darren Southgate headed the ball away but Laiqle, well outside the area, forced a diving save from Seaman with his sweetly struck volley.

Then the Sheringham/Shearer combination bore fruits to put England on a high before their match against Brazil in Paris.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.