The formalities are over and the match is underway in Valletta - England hoping for an impressive showing in their final warm-up match, of course, but if they can impress their hosts with the seriousness of England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup too, so much the better...

The game will be especially important for the likes of debutant keeper Richard Wright, and Kevin Phillips and Nick Barmby - given a final chance to impress Kevin Keegan.

Malta kick off but the ball is quickly collected and played back to keeper Wright for a comfortable first touch.

The England line-up is much as expected with Barmby and Beckham on the flanks. And the loudest sections of the crowd are the English holidaymakers cheering Alan Shearer and his teammates.

Nevertheless, the first half-chance falls to Buttigieg, who is marginally offside when released on the left.

Apart from that, the only early touches for the home side come as they hoof the ball into touch.

Paul Scholes looks to create a chance when he slices through the left side of the Maltese defence but his pull-back gets away from the incoming Kevin Phillips.

It's all very comfortable at this stage for the England midfield. Patient build-ups but - so far - nothing or no-one on the end of it.

(As soon as that is written - Malta get their best chance. Typical! ---) Turner sends a terrific cross-field ball from left to right, confusing Phil Neville and giving Brincat a sight of goal from distance. His dipping shot isn't too far over, though Wright had it covered.

12 minutes: Martin Keown puts the ball in the net but the ref blows for offside.

A David Beckham free-kick from the right picked out Arsenal centre-back Keown -- pretty easily, to be honest -- and he stabs the ball under Barry in the Maltese goal. But Kevin Phillips is in an offside position close to the goalie, and it's no goal. Coming so soon after Tony Adams' goal against Ukraine, it's a positive sign of the defence's intent.

The match has something of the air of a practice match - a very friendly 'friendly'.

Beckham has moved infield and Barmby switched from left to right flanks as England try to find a way through the packed and resolute Malta defence.

But every time England manoeuvre the ball into Barry's area - there are one, two or three defenders ready to get the ball away.

Halfway through the first half and England have still to get the breakthrough they need...

... and then all of a sudden, here's the goal. Martin Keown steals in at the far post to head a Beckham free-kick under the keeper at the far post.

23 minutes gone and it may be seen as some kind of justice after his earlier disallowed goal.

Malta take the ball up the other end and have claims for a penalty turned down when Buttigieg is tackled by Sol Campbell - a brave decision by the Tottenham man to make his move in the area.

Then straight back up the other end where Barmby gets a free header from Gary Neville's cross. The keeper clears with his legs leaving Barmby holding his head.

26 minutes: Richard Wright, on his debut, brings down Carabott on the left side of the area: PENALTY.

Carabott slots home tucked inside the left hand post BUT the ref blows and tells him to retake it. For encroachment?

A nervous moment for the Maltese player but he places the second penalty in the same spot. The ball rebounds off the post, hits Ipswich keeper Wright on the back of the head (remember the play-off final at Wembley?!) and into the net - it's 1:1.

It is game on as Malta score their first ever goal against England.

But Debono will play no more - blood streaming from his nose after a clash of heads with England captain Alan Shearer. Camilleri comes on as an early replacement.

The England players get their first experience of their own fans whistling them as Barmby tries to shoot but completely miscues. Malta are enjoying themselves at the moment...

Shearer could - maybe should - do better as he runs onto a through ball on the edge of the area but his shoot scuffs the post and goes behind.

Another chance on 37 - a free-kick right infront of goal on the edge of the area. Shearer takes - driven low into the wall, it spins behind for a corner.

Barmby shows a bit of magic on the left, threading through to Phillips who beats the keeper but shoots from an acute angle into the side-netting.

And Shearer has another 1-on-1 chance moments later that brings the best out of the Malta goalie.

Vella is substituted just before the break - Theuma coming on in his place - to a round of applause from the appreciative local crowd. He's been a mainstay of football on the island for many, many years.

As the referee blows for half-time, the home fans have much to cheer. Keegan has much to contemplate over the the half-time break.

England:
Richard Wright; Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Martin Keown, Sol Campbell, Nick Barmby, Dennis Wise, Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Kevin Phillips, Alan Shearer.
Substitutes:
Southgate, Martyn, Barry, Ince, McManaman, Heskey, Fowler, Owen.