We were expecting a Brazilian samba, but we actually witnessed a tricolor carnival! Last night, in a sold-out and festive Stade de France, the French national football team faced Brazil in a friendly match, thirteen years after the unforgettable 1998 World Cup victory!
On a pitch considerably deteriorated from the French Rugby XV match held the previous weekend, Laurent Blanc’s Blues won 1-0 (Karim Benzema, 54th minute) and secured their fifth consecutive victory, the first under the new sponsor Nike. Known as the bogey team for the Seleção since 1958 in official competitions, the tricolors continue their revival and their reconquest of French supporters.
The first half was relatively balanced between the two teams until the direct and legitimate expulsion of Brazilian midfielder Hernanes for a clumsy foul on Karim Benzema in the 40th minute.
At halftime, the tricolors, although defensively solid — thanks to the imperial Mexes-Rami central pairing throughout the match — left us wanting more. But this numerical advantage was about to change the course of the match once play resumed.
Indeed, in a move starting from the right wing, Jérémy Menez, also very prominent in his third cap, perfectly crossed to the penalty spot for Karim Benzema, who, having an excellent match, finished with a side-foot into the net against Julio César. The French striker, leading scorer of the Laurent Blanc era with his four goals, left to a deeply deserved ovation from the Stade de France at the end of the match.
The French team, delivering a quality second half against top players like Robinho, Pato, and the promising Hulk, registered an important and convincing new success for confidence, despite their numerical advantage.
This victory will surely please the Nice native and former Eagle, Hugo Lloris, who was decisive at the end of the match with his intervention against Hulk’s feet. He described the encounter as a “prestige match to win in front of (our) audience and against a very great team.” A good omen for the upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers next March…
by Maryline Cabanne
