LUXEMBOURG, March 25 (Reuters) - France cruised into a four-point lead at the top of Euro 2012 Group D qualifying after goals by Philippe Mexes and Yoann Gourcuff earned a 2-0 win in Luxembourg on Friday.
Les Bleus have 12 points from five games and lead Belarus, who travel to third-placed Albania on Saturday, by four points.
Friday's game witnessed the international returns of World Cup rebels Patrice Evra and Franck Ribery.
Defender Evra and forward Ribery were banned for five and three
games respectively for their roles in last year's fiasco in South Africa where France players went on strike to support Nicolas Anelka after he was sent home for insulting then-coach Raymond Domenech.
The two former rebels started Friday's match at the tiny Josy Barthel stadium, after being booed by 2,000 French fans who had crossed the border, and made low-key comebacks in a soporific game.
With captain Alou Diarra on the bench, Samir Nasri was given the skipper's armband and started as the playmaker with Gourcuff as the holding midfielder.
Nasri and Gourcuff switched positions midway through the first half as France struggled to outwit the Luxembourg defence.
Things did not change much although Nasri delivered a perfect free kick into the box for Mexes to head home in the 28th minute.
Florent Malouda and Karim Benzema then went close to a second goal before halftime.
France scored again 18 minutes from time when Gourcuff volleyed in a Ribery cross that had been deflected by a Luxembourg defender.
Les Bleus next host Croatia in a friendly on Tuesday
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire