CHISINAU • France coach Didier Deschamps believes that his world champions could have inflicted a heavier defeat on Moldova, despite a convincing 4-1 victory to kick off their opening Euro 2020 qualifying campaign on Friday.
Antoine Griezmann scored one and set up another as World Cup winners France easily beat Moldova in Chisinau in the Group H match.
The Atletico Madrid attacker opened the scoring in the 24th minute before crossing for Raphael Varane to double the advantage three minutes later.
Olivier Giroud then equalled David Trezeguet as Les Bleus' third-highest scorer of all time with his 34th international goal nine minutes before the break.
Kylian Mbappe completed the rout with three minutes left, before Vladimir Ambros claimed a late consolation for Moldova.
"We could have scored more," said Deschamps. "But these matches are still complicated.
"My players handled the game the right way. We did not fall into any trap.
"The goal conceded does not take anything from our good game. It was a potentially tricky match but we did what we had to.
"We did not give Moldova time to organise and to get back, and we have to keep it that way."
Left-back Layvin Kurzawa was the only member of the starting line-up without a World Cup medal.
Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman pulled out during the warm-up with a muscle issue and was replaced by Blaise Matuidi.
"We've opened our campaign well and the second game comes around quickly," Deschamps added ahead of facing Iceland at the Stade de France tomorrow. "In three days we have do it again."
Meanwhile, European champions Portugal were held to a 0-0 draw in Lisbon by Ukraine in their opening qualifier as talisman Cristiano Ronaldo returned for the first time since the World Cup.
Ukraine's veteran goalkeeper Andriy Pyatov kept Portugal at bay with several fine saves in the first hour, before the hosts ran out of ideas in the Group B game.
"The team had some good moments and some difficult moments," said Portugal coach Fernando Santos, whose side have a tough match at home to Serbia tomorrow.
"We failed to take three or four chances in the first half.
"Now we have to unwind and think about Serbia.
"It's a bit of a blow to our morale but the players will get over it."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS
Leroy Sane struck the winner as Manchester City beat Liverpool 2-1 in a gripping Premier League clash on Thursday, inflicting the first loss of the season on Juergen Klopp's side and cutting their
Valencia clinch Champions League spot, Getafe in Europa League. Valencia were languishing in 12th position in the standings in December and there were repeated calls from supporters for Marcelino
Valencia clinch Champions League qualification on final day
The FIFA/Coca World Ranking - Find out where your team are in the latest standings.
FIFA rankings - Belgium overtake France at No 1 Gibraltar on rise
tv5.espn.com/football/belgium/story/3678879/fifa-rankings-belgium-overtake-france-at-no-1-gibraltar-on-rise
Brazil, one of only two non-European sides in the top 10 along with Uruguay, remain third, followed by Croatia and England. Gibraltar, who only became FIFA members in 2016, rose eight places to their best ranking of 190th thanks to their Nations League wins in Armenia and at home Liechtenstein.
Every major nation's highest and lowest FIFA ranking since
Solskjaer: United don't fear Camp Nou test Manchester United's Norwegian head coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer walks on the pitch at the end of their English Premier League match against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 10, 2019.
Champions League: Solskjaer insists Man United don't fear
Burnley made a big step towards securing Premier League survival after coming back from a goal down to beat Bournemouth 3-1 away as their striker Ashley Barnes scored at both ends in an action
Football: Impressive Burnley fight back to beat Bournemouth 3
With Harry Kane and Dele Alli sidelined until March, everyone was ready to write off Tottenham Hotspur's season as predictions of a slide down the table arrived. Without their star players, the story went, Mauricio Pochettino's men would crumble and be dragged back into the dogfight that is the battle for fourth.
Football For Friendship Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years. Sport Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years.
Cristiano Ronaldo can stay at the top for several years, says
Virgil van Dijk has revealed he knew Harry Kane was not 100 per cent during the Champions League final. Liverpool defender Van Dijk marked Kane out of the clash in Madrid on Saturday on his way to
Leaving out Harry Kane is a sign of strength England are
Crystal Palace put three goals past defending champions Manchester City, including a stunning volley by Andros Townsend, to win 3-2 on Sunday (NZ time) in the biggest upset of the English Premier
Arsenal 2-3 Crystal Palace: Gunners suffer SHOCK defeat to
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League - Guardiola in the English Premier League football match between Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium in
Man City still teenagers in adult world of Champions League
Tottenham Hotspur To Play Crystal Palace In First Game At New Stadium. Sun Mar 17 2019 17:49:27 GMT+0000 (GMT) So, Spurs' new stadium will host two games within six days, both under the lights
Spurs to host Palace in first game at new stadium
0 comments:
Post a Comment