World Cup qualifier: Ribéry saves France blushes again
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Franck Ribéry was France's hero for the second time in five days against Lithuania as his second-half strike earned Les Bleus a 1-0 victory and lifted them into second place in Group 7.
It was one-way traffic at the Stade de France, with Lithuania clearly playing for a draw with 10 men behind the ball.
Karim Benzema was introduced just before the hour mark and the Olympique Lyon striker almost scored within three minutes only for goalkeeper Žydrūnas Karčemarskas to block his low shot.
France came close again in the 64th minute when Lassana Diarra tried a shot from 25 yards and Karčemarskas spilled the ball toward Thierry Henry, who was denied by a lunging tackle.
The home side finally broke the deadlock on 75 minutes when debutant striker André-Pierre Gignac, Ligue 1's top scorer this season, got on the end of Henry's deft cross and volleyed across the face of goal for Ribéry to tap home from close range.
Gignac impressed on his debut and almost set up another goal in the 80th minute for Henry with a pinpoint centre from the right, but he somehow contrived to shin the ball over with the goal at his mercy.
Lineups:
France: Mandanda; Sagna, Gallas, Squillaci, Evra; Alou Diarra, Lassana Diarra; Luyindula (Gignac 69), Gourcuff (Benzema 57), Ribéry; Henry
Lithuania: Karčemarskas; Alunderis, Skerla, Zaliukas, Klimavičius; Semberas, Kalonas (Savėnas 59), Pilibaitis, Mikoliūnas (Česnauskis 65), Šernas; Danilevičius
France v Lithuania goal & highlights
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It was one-way traffic at the Stade de France, with Lithuania clearly playing for a draw with 10 men behind the ball.
Karim Benzema was introduced just before the hour mark and the Olympique Lyon striker almost scored within three minutes only for goalkeeper Žydrūnas Karčemarskas to block his low shot.
France came close again in the 64th minute when Lassana Diarra tried a shot from 25 yards and Karčemarskas spilled the ball toward Thierry Henry, who was denied by a lunging tackle.
The home side finally broke the deadlock on 75 minutes when debutant striker André-Pierre Gignac, Ligue 1's top scorer this season, got on the end of Henry's deft cross and volleyed across the face of goal for Ribéry to tap home from close range.
Gignac impressed on his debut and almost set up another goal in the 80th minute for Henry with a pinpoint centre from the right, but he somehow contrived to shin the ball over with the goal at his mercy.
Lineups:
France: Mandanda; Sagna, Gallas, Squillaci, Evra; Alou Diarra, Lassana Diarra; Luyindula (Gignac 69), Gourcuff (Benzema 57), Ribéry; Henry
Lithuania: Karčemarskas; Alunderis, Skerla, Zaliukas, Klimavičius; Semberas, Kalonas (Savėnas 59), Pilibaitis, Mikoliūnas (Česnauskis 65), Šernas; Danilevičius
France v Lithuania goal & highlights
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