French forward Olivier Giroud (L) eyes the ball as he vies for it during the friendly football match between France and Ireland at the Stade de France stadium, in Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, on May 28, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE Paris : Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir were on target as France stepped up their World Cup preparations by beating the Republic of Ireland 2-0 in Paris.
Chelsea striker Giroud bundled in the opener at the Stade de France, and Lyon captain Fekir — who has been linked with a move to Liverpool — got the second just before the break, with a helping hand from Ireland goalkeeper Colin Doyle.
It was a very comfortable victory for Didier Deschamps’ side in the first of three friendly matches before they head to Russia.
Les Bleus will also host Italy in Nice on Friday and the United States in Lyon on June 9, with their opening World Cup fixture against Australia in Kazan on June 16.
France’s strength in depth, which they showcased here on a night of torrential rain, thunder and lightning, means they are among the contenders to win the tournament, 20 years after becoming world champions on home soil.
However, far bigger tests lie in wait than that provided by Martin O’Neill’s Ireland side. The visitors’ starting line-up featured seven players who turned out in the English Premier League in the season just finished, but they hardly got near the ball all evening.
France were not at full strength, with the likes of goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante and Antoine Griezmann starting on the bench. Raphael Varane has not yet joined up with the squad after winning the Champions League with Real Madrid at the weekend.
However, Deschamps did hand a fifth cap to Benjamin Mendy, the Manchester City left-back who has hardly played since suffering a serious knee injury at the beginning of the campaign.
Italy edges past KSA
In Saint Gallen, Switzerland, Mario Balotelli got new Italy coach Roberto Mancini off to a winning start by scoring the opener in a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia in a pre-World Cup friendly in Saint Gallen.
Saudi Arabia face hosts Russia in the opening match of the tournament on June 14 while four-time champions Italy stay home following their failure to qualify for the first time in 60 years.
Made the scapegoat for Italy’s first-round exit from the 2014 World Cup, Balotelli’s four-year hiatus from the Azzurri squad ended when he was recalled by Mancini, appointed six months after Italy’s shock failure to qualify for Russia following a playoff defeat to Sweden.
It took the 27-year-old Nice striker just 21 minutes to get on the scoreboard with his first goal for Italy since netting the winner against England at the 2014 World Cup.
Italy have dropped to their lowest ever world ranking of 20th, but were in control against the 67th-ranked Saudis.
Tunisia holds Portugal
In Braga, Portugal, AC Milan striker Andre Silva hit a landmark 1000th goal for the hosts but there was little to celebrate as Cristiano Ronaldo-less Portugal were held 2-2 by Tunisia in a pre-World Cup friendly.
Still smarting from a 3-0 defeat to the Netherlands in Geneva last March, Portugal fans were hoping for a morale-boosting win less than two weeks before they head to Russia.
But the defending European champions, who face Spain, Morocco and Iran in Group B, largely flattered to deceive.
Portugal coach Fernando Santos gave Silva the nod and, despite a lack of playing time at Milan, the 22-year-old did well to head home the opener from Ricardo Quaresma’s pinpoint cross on 22 minutes. It was the 1000th goal scored in Portugal colours.
Portugal are likely to still be without Ronaldo when they face Belgium in Brussels on June 2 and Algeria in Lisbon on June 7.
Mexico-Wales draw
In Pasadena, California, Mexico started its World Cup preparations with a 0-0 draw against Wales at the Rose Bowl.
Playing the first of three tuneup matches before its Group F opener against defending champion Germany on June 17 in Moscow, a rampant El Tri attack could not find a way to beat Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.
US defeats Bolivia
In Washington, Josh Sargent scored on his debut as a youthful United States side beat Bolivia 3-0 in an international football friendly.
Sargent, 18, marked his first senior cap with a goal on Monday, while fellow 18-year-old Timothy Weah also scored as the US secured the comfortable win over Bolivia.