Adedayo
Griezmann, Mbappe, Pogba, Lemar, Giroud - but France can't break down Luxembourg
Sep 04 2017 at 07:16am
Luxembourg - who had lost their last 14 games with France - now have five points in Group A
France were held to a surprise home goalless draw by the world's 136th-ranked side Luxembourg in their World Cup qualifier in Toulouse.
Les Bleus, who beat the Netherlands 4-0 on Thursday, had 76% of possession, 34 shots and hit the woodwork twice but could not find a winner.
It is the first time they have failed to beat Luxembourg since 1914.
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The point does keep them top of Group A, although their lead over second-placed Sweden is now just one point.
Didier Deschamps fielded a strong side on Sunday, which included Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba, Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe, who recently joined Paris St-Germain on loan from Monaco with a view to a £166m transfer next summer.
Griezmann smacked a 30-yard free-kick off the bar five minutes before half-time while Pogba saw a header rebound off the frame of the goal late on.
It could have been worse for Les Bleus, though, as Luxembourg substitute Gerson Rodrigues outpaced Laurent Koscielny in the 79th minute before seeing his shot strike an upright.
"Thursday's result was important but so was getting three points today, so we'll need to fight to the end," Deschamps told TF1.
"The last two games will be decisive. We are in a better situation than we were in June, although we are disappointed tonight."
Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
France
1Lloris
19Sidibe
21Koscielny
5Umtiti
3Kurzawa
20MbappeSubstituted forComanat59'minutes
13Kanté
6PogbaBooked at 80mins
8Lemar
9GiroudSubstituted forLacazetteat60'minutes
7GriezmannSubstituted forFekirat81'minutes
Substitutes
2Jallet
4Thauvin
10Lacazette
11Coman
12Tolisso
14Matuidi
15Rabiot
16Mandanda
17Digne
18Fekir
22Kimpembe
23Areola
Luxembourg
1Joubert
18JansBooked at 69mins
6Philipps
4Malget
19JänischBooked at 51mins
11Thill
15Skenderovic
8Martins Pereira
9Alves Da MotaSubstituted forSinaniat59'minutesBooked at 65mins
10ThillSubstituted forRodriguesat59'minutes
20TurpelSubstituted forHolterat87'minutes
Substitutes
2Martins
3Ostrowski
5Holter
7Rodrigues
12Czekanowicz
13Carlson
14Sinani
16Veiga
17Hall
21Deville
22Joachim
23Cabral
Referee :
Aleksandar Stavrev
Match Stats
Home TeamFrance Away TeamLuxembourg
Possession
Home 76%
Away 24%
Shots
Home 34
Away 3
Shots on Target
Home 9
Away 1
Corners
Home 10
Away 4
Fouls
Home 8
Away 13
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, France 0, Luxembourg 0.
Full Time
Posted at 90'+4'
Second Half ends, France 0, Luxembourg 0.
Posted at 90'+1'
Samuel Umtiti (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg).
Posted at 89'
Attempt saved. Djibril Sidibe (France) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Posted at 89'
Djibril Sidibe (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg).
Substitution
Posted at 87'
Substitution, Luxembourg. Dwayn Holter replaces David Turpel.
Posted at 84'
Hand ball by Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg).
Posted at 83'
Foul by Nabil Fekir (France).
Posted at 83'
Christopher Martins Pereira (Luxembourg) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 83'
Video Review:.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Djibril Sidibe (France).
Posted at 82'
Christopher Martins Pereira (Luxembourg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Posted at 81'
Substitution, France. Nabil Fekir replaces Antoine Griezmann.
Booking
Posted at 80'
Paul Pogba (France) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Paul Pogba (France).
Posted at 80'
Kevin Malget (Luxembourg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 79'
Attempt blocked. Daniel Sinani (Luxembourg) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Posted at 79'
Gerson Rodrigues (Luxembourg) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Mathias Jänisch.
Posted at 77'
Paul Pogba (France) h
