Brazil World Cup 2014 Schedule: Group E Fixtures. France vs. Honduras at Estadio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre on Sunday June 15, 2014; kick off 20:00 BST
France: Lloris, Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra, Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann. Subs: Ruffier, Cabella, Giroud, Mavuba, Mangala, Sagna, Digne, Sissoko, Remy, Koscielny, Schneiderlin, Landreau.
Honduras: Valladares, Beckeles, Bernardez, Figueroa, Izaguirre, Najar,Wilson Palacios, Garrido, Espinoza, Bengtson, Costly. Subs: Lopez, Osman Chavez, Montes, Juan Garcia, Jerry Palacios, Mario Martinez, Delgado, Oscar Garcia, Rony Martinez, Claros, Marvin Chavez, Escober.
Referee: Sandro Meira Ricci (Brazil)
France 3 Honduras 0:
Goals -
- Karim Benzema 45 Pen,
- Noel Valladares 48 o.g.,
- Karim Benzema 72
France dominated the Honduras side with a final score of 3-0. The French played impressive football with Benzema stealing two goals for his side. Honduras played a disappointing match with Wilson Palacios sent off during the first hals. The side also fouled the French from one goal post to the other, but they were not able to overpower the Les Bleus.
Among the players that stood out, Valbuena and Benzema were in top shape for France withe Benzema expected to score more in future matches since he is in goal-scoring form. Commentators say that the game was difficult to assess, since Honduras played very little quality football that is up to the Brazil World Cup 2014 standards.
In the 73rd min., a corner finds Debuch, who shoots but it is blocked. The ball finds Benzema in the penalty box taking a touch and smacking the shot in the goal's near post.
65 mn: French clearly leading the game and they seem to be controlling the game and now it's only about how many goals France will score against Honduras. From the perspective of Hondurans, that would be how many fouls the Hondurans could add to their list.
53 mn: Goal - A cross comes in from the right and Benzema shoots at the far post with ball bouncing back and hits the goalkeeper who has the ball over his own line but the shot is ruled a goal using the new goal-line technology used in the Brazilian World Cup 2014.
Controversy erupts in the stadium as an announcement says it was not a goal, while the crowd boos and cheers. But the goal tech clarifies the shot at the far post was not a goal, but the goal keeper later scored an own goal when it was knocked into the goal line.
France 2 Honduras 0 (Valladares OG 48)
20:58 An email from Jim Hatch said, "Jim Hatch:
Fascinating game! Honduras has the highest crime rate of all countries and it creeps into their footballing style."
Half Time: France 1 Honduras 0.
An analysis of first half play reveals that France is the only side playing footbal. France are well prepared with young players improving their pace and runs consistently.
"Honduras haven't done anything apart from kick Frenchmen, which is not without its merits as a policy, but they're deservedly down to ten men, Wilson Palacios lost the plot. Hard to see them getting back into it. Join me in a couple of minutes and we'll find out," reported The Guardian.
45mn: Goal, Bemzema thrashes a penalty high into the net and there's no way to defend that. It's France 1 Hounduras 0. (Benzema 45 pen).
