LILLE,
France (AP) — France heads to Brazil with its confidence high after
rounding off its World Cup warm-up matches by thrashing Jamaica 8-0 on
Sunday, with striker Karim Benzema scoring two and creating two in an
impressive display of attacking football.
Benzema picked out Oliver Giroud for France's fourth goal and also
created the second for midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who in turn set up
Benzema's second.
Star winger Franck Ribery was ruled out of the World Cup on Friday
because of a lingering back injury but his absence could work in
France's favor as the teamwork looks much improved.
"We've lost a world-class player," France coach Didier Deschamps
said. "He's not here, but we have other players. It's about having
collective strength."
Giroud set up the opener for midfielder Yohan Cabaye, left back
Patrice Evra crossed for Matuidi's second of the night, and Antoine
Griezmann came off the bench to score two clinical goals.
"It's not easy to score eight goals. It's good for confidence,
although we won't be over-confident," Deschamps said. "We played with a
lot of mobility, and there was a good understanding between the
players."
Less than a year ago, Benzema was fighting for his place after a
dismal run of 15 games without a goal, but has scored six in his past
six and his international tally has improved to a respectable 21 in 66.
This was France's heaviest win since a 10-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan in 1995.
Without Ribery, Deschamps will likely play with Benzema in a roaming
role and Giroud at center forward against Honduras in their Group E
match on Sunday. The French then play Switzerland and Ecuador.
"Karim and Olivier are both in great shape," Deschamps said.
France created early pressure, and Giroud went close to heading in Mathieu Valbuena's teasing cross from the left.
The defense remains vulnerable to set pieces, however, and defender Adrian Mariappa almost gave the visitors a surprise lead.
France took the lead in the 17th minute with a well-worked team goal.
Valbuena found space on the edge of the penalty area, looped the ball
up to Giroud, who held off a defender before nodding the ball down to
Cabaye. Sprinting into space, the PSG midfielder expertly controlled the
ball on his chest before volleying home as he he slid along the ground.
The second goal came just three minutes later, as Benzema picked out
Matuidi, and the PSG midfielder smacked the ball inside the left post
from 20 meters.
Benzema got his first in the 38th, playing a quick one-two with
Valbuena on the edge of the box, before cutting inside his marker and
curling the ball inside the right post.
Benzema showed his passing is just as good when, in the 53rd, he
peeled away down the left flank and picked out Giroud with a tight,
curling pass and the Arsenal forward finished with a powerful shot into
the left corner for his third goal in three games.
Benzema got his second in the 63rd with another emphatic finish,
collecting Matuidi's clever reverse pass and hitting an unstoppable shot
into the top left corner. Three minutes later, Matuidi showed his
finishing skills when he ran onto Evra's cross and clipped the ball past
goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett.
With 20 minutes left, Benzema went close to his hat trick with a
thudding strike against the post, and Valbuena miscued from close range
moments later.
After Jamaica lost possession in midfield, Valbuena passed to
Benzema, who returned the pass only for Valbuena to lose his balance as
he tried to control the ball. Griezmann was on hand to collect it,
swivel and finish neatly in the 77th.
His next goal, a back-heel flick in the 89th, was even better.
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