As part of 50 years celebration of their involvement in European Football, Manchester United yesterday faced an all-star Europe XI team coached by Italian World Cup winner Marcello Lippi.
Players in the European XI included Olympique Lyonnais players Eric Abidal, Grgory Coupet and Juninho Pernambucano, Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, Real Madrid start Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Carles Puyol, Gianluca Zambrotta, Lilian Thuram and Ronaldinho.
There was never really any doubt about who would come out on top at the start of the second half Wayne Rooney put Manchester up 4-1.
El Hadji Diouf went on the strike and headed one home, after a swift seven pass move and the Europe XI managed to catch up.
But they couldn’t quite put it over the top and took a 4-3 defeat to the Red Devils in front of a near capacity crowd at Old Trafford.
The proceeds from the Manchester United, Europe XI match will go to the Manchester United Foundation, working to fund local community projects, national organisations in the UK and partnering with UNICEF.