SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 9 hrs 16 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
Collect News Data
FN
Friendlies 1
Jun 2, 2021 at 8.05pm UK
Allianz Riviera
WN

France
3 - 0
Wales

Mbappe (35'), Griezmann (48'), Dembele (79')
Varane (76')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Moore (90+2')
Williams (26')

France 3-0 Wales: Kylian Mbappe on scoresheet in comfortable French win

:Headline: France 3-0 Wales: Kylian Mbappe on scoresheet in comfortable French win:
The Liverpool youngster was sent off after 26 minutes for blocking Karim Benzema's close-range effort with his arms.
Sports Mole

Wales fell to a 3-0 Euro 2020 warm-up defeat to France after Neco Williams' controversial red card left them playing with 10 men for more than an hour.

Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele made France's numerical advantage count as Wales went into damage limitation mode on a night in Nice which proved anything but pleasant for the Dragons.

Williams was banished on 26 minutes after blocking Karim Benzema's close-range shot with his arms outstretched, following a VAR check by Portuguese referee Luis Godinho.

It seemed a harsh decision, but Williams now looks set to miss Wales' final pre-Euro 2020 friendly against Albania in Cardiff on Saturday through suspension.

Benzema saw his resulting spot-kick saved by Danny Ward, but the outcome was inevitable from that point as the world champions revelled in the extra space created by Williams' departure.

Wales interim boss Robert Page had promised to manage his players' minutes against France and Albania amid several fitness concerns just 10 days before their tournament opener against Switzerland in Baku.

Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Joe Allen all had injury issues in the final months of the season with the trio having little or no game time.

Only Allen of the three started at the Allianz Riviera, the Stoke midfielder's first game since pulling up in a World Cup qualifying defeat to Belgium in March.

Ramsey and Davies were on the bench while Ethan Ampadu and Tom Lockyer, a late addition to the Euro 2020 party on Monday when James Lawrence dropped out, did not make the matchday squad after injury.

Ousmane Dembele celebrates with France's Antoine Griezmann after scoring his side's third goal (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris captained France for the 100th time in the city of his birth as Real Madrid striker Benzema ended an international absence of nearly six years by joining Griezmann and Mbappe in attack.

Griezmann and Olivier Giroud had scored when the two nations last met, France winning a Paris friendly 2-0 in November 2017.

Les Bleus might have been looking for a good omen with that victory coming eight months before their World Cup celebrations in Russia, and Didier Deschamps' side started on the front foot.

Williams was assigned to do a man-marking job on Paul Pogba, but the Manchester United man found space in the fourth minute to deliver a cross which Benzema headed powerfully but Ward pushed to safety.

Wales responded instantly and Daniel James broke into space to test Lloris with a low shot, with Presnel Kimpembe preventing Allen from bundling home the rebound.

Karim Benzema missed his penalty (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

The visitors were matching France in what was an open high-tempo contest, but that was to change when Ward reacted brilliantly to save Pogba's close-range header.

Benzema's follow-up was heading goalwards until Williams got in the way and Wales paid the penalty in more than one way as the Liverpool youngster was dismissed.

France made their extra man count after 34 minutes when Adrien Rabiot's shot from the edge of the area took a wicked deflection.

Ward stuck out a foot but the ball looped into the air and Mbappe was on hand to finish with a classy volley.

France doubled their lead two minutes into the second half.

Mbappe cleverly flicked the ball into Griezmann's path and the Barcelona forward beat Ward with an unerring effort from the edge of the box.

Ramsey was introduced among a raft of second-half substitutions and the Juventus playmaker produced a delicious pass to set up James for an effort which Lloris saved with a strong right hand.

David Brooks also saw his free-kick blocked, but France sealed victory 11 minutes from time when Benzema's shot cannoned off a post and substitute Dembele swept home the rebound.

body check tags ::

amp_article__450024 : Collect and Make Data not in DataBase  : 
last updated article - 2021-06-02 21:15:08:
html db last update - 2021-06-02 21:12:21 :

ex - 7200 : read : write cache and make html
Read more!
Share this article now:


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!
Recommended Next on SM
Robert Page urges caution over Welsh trio's fitness
Liverpool 'resigned to missing out on top managerial candidate'
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

history www

Arsenal 'suffer blow in pursuit of PSG attacker'

1

A'

Man City quoted £86m for "exceptional" Newcastle man?

2

MC

Gary O'Neil to snub any offer from Manchester United?

NEW

3

GO

Mainoo, Rashford, Palmer handed boost in Euro 2024 hopes?

4

MR

Preview: Werder Bremen vs. Wolfsburg - prediction, team news, lineups

5

PW

Arsenal 'optimistic over triple injury boost for Man City clash'

6

A'

Preview: Barcelona vs. Las Palmas - prediction, team news, lineups

7

PB

Man City injury, suspension list vs. Arsenal - De Bruyne, Stones and more

8

MC

Preview: Chelsea vs. Burnley - prediction, team news, lineups

9

PC

How Chelsea could line up against Burnley

10

HC


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .