FIFA World Cup: French banish the blues

Lille (France): Karim Benzema hit two spectacular goals as France romped to an 8-0 victory over Jamaica in a bid to ease the blow of losing star striker Franck Ribery for the World Cup. Blaise Matuidi and Antoine Griezmann also scored twice in France’s final World Cup warm-up game before 49,000 fans in Lille.

While Jamaica barely put up any serious opposition, the result was a welcome boost for Didier Deschamps’ team two days after being rocked by Ribery’s withdrawal with a back injury.

Benzema and Matuidi scored a goal in each half of the festive farewell to their French fans before heading to Brazil on Monday. France play their first World Cup Group E game next Sunday against Honduras, who held England 0-0 on Saturday.

Benzema’s first goal was a curling shot from the corner of the penalty area. The second was another shot from the edge of the area past hapless Jamaica goalkeeper Jacomeno Barrett.

Benzema also hit the post and made a goal for Matuidi and Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud. Griezmann, a rival to Giroud for Ribery’s place, came on as a second half substitute and scored twice in 12 minutes. Yohan Cabaye opened the score in the 17th minute.

France are now unbeaten in five games and looked strong. The only worry for France was left back Mathieu Debuchy’s exit at half-time. “It was a blow to the back of the thigh. He struggled to finished the first half,” said the coach. “I didn’t want to take any risks. There is no real worry.” Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, called into the squad after injuries to Ribery and midfielder Clement Grenier, came on for the final three minutes to gain his first cap.

Italy thrash Fluminense

In Volta Redonda (Brazil), Ciro Immobile scored a hat trick and also set up two other goals as Italy ended their recent slump by beating Brazilian club Fluminense 5-3. The Azzurri had entered on a seven-match winless streak and this match was deadlocked at 2-2 at halftime before Italy scored three goals in a two-minute span at the start of the second half.

Lorenzo Insigne opened the scoring in the 23rd and Chiquinho equalized two minutes later. Immobile scored his first in the 31st then Carlinhos equalized in the 37th. Immobile put Italy ahead for good in the 53rd then scored again a minute later before crossing to Insigne for another easy score in the 55th.

Substitute Matheus Carvalho pulled one back for Fluminense in the 64th. Italy opens the World Cup against England in Manaus on Saturday then faces Costa Rica and Uruguay in Group D. Italy started with a squad of mostly reserves, as the likes of Mario Balotelli, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi only came on midway through the second half.

Iran beat Trinidad
Meanwhile in Sao Paulo, Iran defeated Trinidad and Tobago 2-0 on an empty training ground. Ehsan Haji Safi scored late in the first half and Reza Ghoochannejhad  added a goal early in the second.