After desperately struggling and then stumbling en route to the World cup, France now look set for a stint in South Africa. Though narrowly beating Costa Rica, a World Cup absentee (2-1) Wednesday, the friendly game was a near festival of top class control.
Freshman Valbuena clinically finished a superb 83rd minute dribble from Arsenal’s Abu Diabi to put the French ahead of a robust Costa Rican side.
Although highly criticized, manager Raymond Domenech made a tough decision with his first friendly: he fielded what look like his SA starting team, bringing on Henry for Anelka at the second half.
But their youthful opponents were the first to open scores. Sixteen minutes on, Barca’s Abidal let Hernandez pull a trigger at Mandanda raising the tally one goal ahead of France.
A series of goal opportunities came but were either squandered by strikers Malouda and Sidney Gouvou or reposted by a solid Costa Rican defence in front of an equally capable goalie, Navas.
Then Frank Ribery, the apparent French supplement for a retired Zinedine Zidane came on even putting his side on a tie just before the break.
France have not missed a world cup since their turning point victory in 1998. They finished runners up in 2006 but their poorest performance came in 2002 when they bowed out in the first round with a sorry defeat from Abdul Diouf’s Senegal.
The winning generation might have been completely gone yesterday, but newcomers Yuan Gourcuff and Xavier Toulalan may be apt reminders for Claude Makelele and retired Marcel Desally.
Coach Domenech will leave the side at the end of the summer. French League Bordeaux manager and former national squad skipper-Laurent Blanc is planned to come in.
The French play against Uruguay on June 12 at the start of their World Cup campaign in Poll A before meeting hosts South Africa and then Mexico.
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