France 2-0 Bolivia
It’s hard to think that it’s approaching 11 months since France were crowned champions of the world.
Since then they have thoroughly enjoyed such status, even if they did miss out on a place in this week’s UEFA Nations League semi-final.
That was something Les Bleus didn’t need to worry about, however, as they prepared for this International Friendly and the beginning of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.
Highlights of the game
As International Friendly highlights go, there were a few.
The hosts were naturally missing Spurs duo Moussa Sissoko and Hugo Lloris, both involved in the Champions League Final just 24 hours earlier.
But they did have a strong side with the likes of Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, midfielder Paul Pogba – who was so anonymous in the closing stages of the season for this club side – Kylian Mbappe, the in-demand Antoine Griezmann and Thomas Lemar among the starting line-up.
In fact, it was the latter two who teamed up to open the scoring inside five minutes.
The Atletico Madrid team-mates linked up with Lemar applying the finishing touch with a left-footed shot to give the world champions the early lead.
The International Friendly betting odds would have been pretty emphatic beforehand too with the majority of SBOBET backers expecting a home win.
Les Bleus were aiming to build on their storming start in Group H Euro 2020 qualifiers, after beating Moldova 4-1 and Iceland 4-0 in their first two encounters back in March.
The South American side were looking for a good performance ahead of the 2019 Copa America tournament but without a win for more than a year, the country ranked number 63 in the world knew this was a tough assignment.
So, it was little surprise that the one-way traffic continued in the La Beaujoire-Louis-Fonteneau in Nantes as Samuel Umtiti saw a header blocked from a Griezmann cross before Pogba fired over and Florian Thauvin saw an effort saved.
Pogba then saw a shot blocked after being played in by Tanguy NDombele with Lloris’ replacement, Alphonse Areola – who plays his club football for Paris St Germain – a spectator for long spells.
Thauvin went close and Pogba fired a free-kick over the top before Griezmann tested visiting goalkeeper Carlos Lampe with a header from a Lucas Digne cross.
Two minutes before the break and Les Bleus got the second goal their play merited as Griezmann converted from a corner to make it 2-0.
A knock late in the first half meant Mbappe didn’t appear for the second half as he was replaced by Wissam Ben Yedder, while Leo Dubois replaced Bayern Munich-bound Benjamin Pavard.
The pattern remained the same into the second period
Ben Yedder, Lemarand Thauvin both tested Lampe, while Areola had a rare job to do with to keep out a long-range Leonel Justiniano shot.
Shortly after replacing Lemar, Kingsley Cowman twice called Lampe into action and Ben Yedder saw another effort blocked before Justiniano again threatened a consolation in stoppage time.
Job done for France and damage limitation for Bolivia – bigger tests now follow for both.
Key statistics
Bolivia have not won a football match since September 2017.
Then a Juan Carlos Arce penalty gave them a 1-0 victory over Chile.
France have only lost two of their last 23 outings.
What’s next?
Didier Deschamps’ men begin their Euro 2020 bid with a double header away from home.
They travel to Turkey next Saturday (June 8) before a trip to minnows Andorra three days later.
They also face Iceland, Albania and Moldova in Group H.
Bolivia are now all set for the start of the Copa America.
They meet holders Brazil in the opening match on June 15 before facing Per and Venezuela.
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