Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud both scored for France as Didier Deschamps’ side cruised to a 2-0 friendly victory over Wales.
Antoine Griezmann proved his worth to France with a scintillating individual display as his volley, combined with Olivier Giroud’s second-half strike, helped Didier Deschamps’ side claim a 2-0 friendly win over Wales on Friday.
Having cruised through their World Cup qualification campaign, the hosts were in fine form at Stade de France, with Griezmann at the heart of a vibrant first-half performance in Les Bleus’ first meeting with Wales since 1982.
Following a lively opening, in which Kylian Mbappe struck the woodwork, Griezmann took matters into his own hands 18 minutes in – volleying home from Corentin Tolisso’s pinpoint pass – though Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey should have done better.
Shorn of the injured Gareth Bale, Wales – in their first match since missing out on a place in the World Cup qualification play-offs – improved after the interval, with Steve Mandanda at his best to deny Aaron Ramsey from point-blank range.
Any hopes of a comeback for Chris Coleman’s side were ended with 19 minutes remaining, however, as Giroud tucked home in typically composed fashion.
Samuel Umtiti and Benjamin Pavard almost added gloss to the triumph late on, but their misses mattered little, as Wales’ five-match unbeaten run on the road was brought to a halt.
France should have been ahead inside eight minutes – Blaise Matuidi and midfield partner Tolisso both wasteful from the edge of Wales’ area.
Wales had Hennessey to thank moments later as he somehow turned Mbappe’s strike onto the crossbar, though he was then beaten far too easily for France’s opener.
Griezmann did well to connect with Tolisso’s delicately-weighted throughball, the Atletico Madrid man executing an acrobatic over-the-shoulder volley which, despite lacking any real power, slipped through Hennessey’s grasp.
No comments:
Post a Comment