But a decent showing at the dispatch box bought the prime minister some time.

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It has produced some of the best moments of the current parliament - and has given ministers some rather uncomfortable interludes at the dispatch box.

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They are ahead in the opinion polls, they took a seat off the Tories in a by-election and their leader Ed Miliband has shown growing confidence at the dispatch box.

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France's response was meek at best but the Mexicans, by now full of confidence, continued to press and were rewarded when Barrera was tripped and Blanco charged in from outside the box to dispatch his penalty into the right-hand corner of the net.

BBC: France 0-2 Mexico

Tevez was made to wait by some unnecessary jostling on the edge of the box, but he his nerve held to dispatch the spot-kick down the middle of the goal.

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