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 News from Around the Americas | May 2006 
France Edge Mexico in World Cup Prep
 Benoit Petit - AFP
| | France's midfielder Florent Malouda reacts after he scored a goal during the friendly test match against Mexico ahead of the 2006 World Cup. Malouda helped France to a 1-0 win over Mexico in a lively World Cup warm-up game at the Stade de France. (AFP/Pascal Pavani) |
Florent Malouda helped France to a 1-0 win over Mexico in a lively World Cup warm-up game at the Stade de France.
"That was precisely what we were looking for - a proper warm-up match," said coach Raymond Domenech.
"We knew we were going to suffer, we had to hold on tight, that's what we did. I'm satisfied. The other good thing tonight - we knew how to keep our lead," he added.
Les Bleus turned out fresh from a week's bonding session in the Alps which featured the scaling of a glacier and number two keeper Gregory Coupet's icy falling out with Fabien Barthez and Domenech.
Domenech rested Thierry Henry, electing to pair David Trezeguet and Djibril Cisse up front for this first of three friendlies before the serious business begins in Germany next month.
Patrick Vieira, seemingly none the worse for last weekend's raid on his villa in Cannes, had France's first proper chance but his strike in the 14th minute hit the crossbar.
Trezeguet then went close on the half hour mark but the Juventus' striker's shot was gathered up safely by Mexico keeper Oswaldo Sanchez' outstretched hands
Down at the other end Mexico midfielder Parvel Pardo sent a teasing freekick into Barthez' box from the left only for Barcelona's Rafael Marquez to knock it high.
France's injury time goal was the product of a carefully crafted move originating from the halfway line and culminated in Cisse setting up Malouda on the far post.
The Lyon midfielder coolly chested the ball down and beat off Marquez to shoot over Sanchez, the ball hitting the underside of the crossbar.
Domenech made half a dozen changes in the second half, with Sylvain Wiltord coming on for Vieira, Mikael Silvestre for William Gallas and Vikash Dhorasoo for Zinedine Zidane.
This was Zidane's 100th appearance for France and his last at the Stade de France.
The Real Madrid 'galactico' walked to the dugout having handed the captain's armband to Barthez with a broad smile and respectful applause ringing round the stadium.
France will have considered themselves unlucky not to have increased their lead late in the game with Alou Diarra in particular troubling the Mexican defence with eight minutes left.
Barthez picked up a yellow card in injury time, sparking chants of "Coupet, Coupet" from some sections of the 80,000-crowd.
Mexico, fourth in FIFA's world rankings, one place above France, get their World Cup underway against Iran in Nuremburg on June 11.
France, who have friendlies lined up against Denmark on May 31 in Lens and China in Saint-Etienne on June 7, open their campaign against Switzerland in Stuttgart on June 13.
Domenech reflected: "I'd said beforehand, this wasn't a decisive match, but a warm-up."
"Our other friendlies will bring us closer to the competition, we've got to develop to get better and better to be ready for June 13." |
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