William Gallas had earlier in the day called for goals after Monday’s drab 0-0 draw with Romania and France produced them on Tuesday — albeit against a side made up of local youngsters.
Police were dotted around the surrounding fields of the Chatel Saint Denis stadium but the purpose was unclear unless it was to keep watch over a herd of cows grazing by the corner flag.
On the pitch the cream of the French team were limbering up for this game, light relief from the next instalment of the group of death against the Netherlands tomorrow.
The announcer in the stadium proudly read out the names of the village side, each one receiving a generous reception from the 1,000 or so crowd.
This was clearly not a UEFA-sanctioned affair as it was sent on its way half an hour late, sufficient time to allow the menacing black clouds to roll in off the nearby mountains.
The assembled gathering wanted goals and with Thierry Henry, absent due to a mysterious injury for Monday’s moribund draw, on hand expectations were high.
The game kicked off with the locals’ No. 10 displaying some Zidanesque skills to round Sidney Govou in the opening seconds.
However, Samir Nasri scored France’s first goal at Euro 2008 with a neat touch that he and his team-mates hope will open the floodgates to crush the Dutch tomorrow in Berne. Minutes later Patrice Evra knocked in the second.
The locals were playing with a lot more offensive fire than Romania managed on Monday but as the blue tide continued to press Nasri got his double.
Then Francois Clerc came off second best in a clash with the locals’ No. 10 who had the good grace to ruffle his hair by way of apology.
Bafetimbi Gomis was then outwitted by the local’s goalkeeper who was clearly an AC Milan fan kitted out in black and red.
Hearts must have stopped in the French camp around the half an hour mark when Henry went down after a challenge.
Mercifully for French fans everywhere he got to his feet, and seconds later scored.
A morale boosting win then, by 7-0, but the real challenge lies in Berne where Ruud van Nistelrooy et al are waiting.
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