England and France start Euro campaign with a 1-1 draw in Donetsk.
Joleon Lescott had put England in front in the 30th minute of this Euro Cup match. They could only hold the lead for more than nine minutes though as Samir Nasri struck from the edge of the area and England never really looked like restoring their advantage.
France came from behind to force a 1-1 draw with England on Monday as a cagey Euro 2012 opener between the Group D and ensured a point in points table.
Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott headed England into a 30th-minute lead to leave Roy Hodgson's men dreaming of the perfect start to their campaign on a sweltering night at the Donbass Arena.
The England goal was the cue for a period of dominance from France which lasted until the half-time whistle.
Diarra almost made immediate amends with a header of his own, Hart parrying high after the defensive midfielder met Nasri's pinpoint freekick.
In the ensuing scramble Franck Ribery headed back across goal but Diarra's second effort went wide.
A French equaliser seemed on though and it arrived through Lescott's City team-mate Samir Nasri struck back with a 39th-minute equaliser, lashing a low shot from outside the area to give France a share of the points and extend Les Bleus unbeaten run to 22 games.
England seemed content to slow the pace of the game in the second half, and passed confident without ever threatening France.
Gradually however France's superior technique began to tell and England spent long periods of the closing minutes on the back foot.
But though England seemed to be tiring rapidly in the final stages, France were unable to find the winner as the match wound down, with Benzema's late strike parried by Joe Hart.
England will face Sweden in Kiev on Friday in their second game while France face Sweden in Donetsk.
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