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The last six contests at St Nom La Breteche have been won by Great Britain and Ireland, with Europe notching up their last victory in 2000.
But Jose Maria Olazabal's side put in a promising performance on Thursday, with Thomas Bjorn and Miguel Angel Jimenez first to pull on their golf clothing for a fourball match against Scots Paul Lawrie and Stephen Gallacher.
Bjorn and Jimenez are the most experienced players in the history of the event, with an impressive 59 matches between them - not to mention a combined age of 91.
And they got off to a perfect start when Jimenez birdied the first from nine feet and Lawrie missed from a few inches closer. Jimenez also birdied the third - but this was matched by Gallacher, who then managed to remain just one down by saving par on the fifth.
In the second match, Finland's Mikko Ilonen and Denmark's Thorbjorn Olesen were level with Chris Wood and debutant Tommy Fleetwood after five holes, while Joost Luiten and home favourite Gregory Bourdy were one up on Jamie Donaldson and David Lynn after three.
Meanwhile, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano's birdie on the first took him and Nicolas Colsaerts one up in their match against Marc Warren and Scott Jamieson. Matteo Manassero and Francesco Molinari were the only pair trailing behind, in their match against Simon Khan and Paul Casey.
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