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France 1-0 Lithuania: Ribery secures copycat win
Franck Ribery was France's hero for the second time in five days against Lithuania, his second-half winner in Paris lifting Les Bleus into second place in World Cup qualifying Group Seven.
The Bayern Munich wideman was France's goalscorer in their 1-0 victory in Kaunas on Saturday and he came to their rescue again here, tapping home in the 75th minute just when it seemed the Lithuanians were going to hold out for a draw.
The result lifts the French above their vanquished opponents and to within two points of pool leaders Serbia, with all three countries now halfway through their qualification campaign.
It was one-way traffic at the Stade de France, with Lithuania clearly playing for a draw with 10 men behind the ball until Ribery's goal.
France were unconvincing and often bereft of imagination but managed to find the breakthrough late on, just as they did against Lithuania at the weekend and in Nantes two years ago in Euro 2008 qualifying, when they won 2-0.
Coach Raymond Domenech and his players had called for the public to get behind the France team for what was a key encounter in the course of qualification.
Domenech's name was again jeered prior to the anthems, as is now custom, but the raft of France flags handed out to the crowd made for an impressive pre-match atmosphere.
Even though the hosts dominated from the first whistle, it soon became clear that playing with two deep-lying central midfielders - Alou Diarra and Lassana Diarra - and just one striker in Henry was not attacking enough against very limited opposition.
Ribery, regularly coming in off his left flank, was ubiquitous early on for the French and the Bayern winger tested Zydrunas Karcemarskas with a low shot that was tipped behind by the goalkeeper in the 20th minute.
Ribery then shot weakly at Karcemarskas two minutes later but the ultra-defensive Lithuanians were coping relatively comfortably, even if France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda was a virtual bystander.
A fired-up Yoann Gourcuff was lucky to escape with only a yellow card when he went studs-up into the chest of Linas Pilibaitis.
The France playmaker then showed his other side, spinning clear and crossing for Peguy Luyindula, who looked odds-on to bundle home before Arunas Klimavicius somehow cleared.
Domenech surprisingly maintained his 4-2-3-1 formation for the start of the second half but it was still Les Bleus holding the whip hand, Lassana Diarra forcing an easy save out of Karcemarskas three minutes in.
Karim Benzema was introduced just before the hour mark and the Lyon striker almost made his mark immediately when a low left-foot shot was palmed away by Karcemarskas.
Toulouse's Andre-Pierre Gignac, Ligue 1's top scorer this season, was also introduced for his debut but by now the French public were beginning to show their frustration with their team toiling away.
They were soon celebrating, though, thanks to Ribery's winner.
Gignac, who had looked very lively since coming on, got on the end of Henry's deft cross and volleyed across the face of goal for Ribery to tap home from two yards out.
Henry should have killed off the match in the 80th minute but he somehow contrived to fire over with the goal at his mercy after running onto a fine Gignac centre.
Domenech unruffled by wait for goal
France coach Raymond Domenech was not surprised to see his side require another late goal to eke out a victory over Lithuania in Paris.
"It was more complicated than Saturday, yes, but that was to be expected," he said. "As a team, it was more tricky because of the tactics of the opposition. But against Lithuania, we are used to winning in the last quarter of an hour.
"I think we have been very solid in the two matches."
France needed a late brace by Thierry Henry to see off Lithuania in Nantes in 2007 in qualifying for the European Championships.
This time it was Ribery who again saved the day, the Bayern Munich wideman tapping home from two yards after substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac had volleyed across a sublime centre.
"Franck finished the work done by everyone," said Domenech. "Everyone is in this together. Franck finished it off today, it was 'Titi' (Henry) who did it last time.
"It's the team, not one player, that makes the difference. Franck is one of the important elements of our team, like Titi and William (Gallas) at the back."
France are still two points behind group leaders Serbia with half the qualification campaign gone.
But their situation looks a lot healthier now than it did before the double-header against the Lithuanians.
"The objective has been reached," Domenech said. "We are building something. The essential thing is that we fight all the way."
A host of Lithuania players ply their trade in Russia and Poland, in leagues that are only just restarting after a long winter off, and coach Jose Couceiro admitted his side's lack of fitness told in the end.
"We played better than we did on Saturday but of course we had a lot of problems," said the Portuguese. "For some players, it is the first time they have played 90 minutes for a long time. It's difficult.
"To defend all match is impossible and we had physical problems. The defensive work was very good, better than Saturday, but France kept the ball and kept the ball."
The Lithuanians did not test France goalkeeper Steve Mandanda once in the entire match and Couceiro admitted he was disappointed to see his team sit back so much.
"We didn't start on the counter-attack but we needed to," he added. "Of our last 11 matches, the team have scored in eight of them. In the three matches we haven't scored, we have lost.
"If you start a match playing to draw, you'll lose. You need to score goals - it's the same when you play France and Serbia."
yess... menang sebijik lagi.. hebak btol |
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Post time 1-4-2009 12:28 PM
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