|
|
|
 |
 |
| Gallas saves France from defeat |
 |
William Gallas proved he is edging back to full fitness with a second half equaliser as France battled to a draw in Tunisia in their latest World Cup warm-up game on Sunday.
Gallas came into the French training camp in Tignes hoping to prove his fitness for South Africa after missing the final few weeks of Arsenal's Premier League campaign with a calf injury.
He made a 45-minute appearance against Costa Rica on Wednesday night and lasted 63 minutes in Rades. His main contribution was to grab France's goal, converting Yoann Gourcuff's second-half free-kick as Les Bleus hit back after conceding an early opener to Issam Jemaa.
France started brightly, Florent Malouda's third minute shot flashing wide. But Les Bleus soon found themselves behind after conceding to Tunisia's first attack of the evening.
Mehdi Nafti made the burst into the box before picking out Fahid Ben Khalfallah and his cross was turned in by Jemaa at the far post.
France tried to respond but three long-range efforts from Franck Ribery failed to test home keeper Aymen Mathlouthi. Gallas then headed Malouda's corner over the bar as the French continued to press.
They were finding it hard to break through a stubborn Tunisia rearguard, however.
Nicolas Anelka fired a 20-yard free-kick straight into the wall before Mathlouthi saved well from Jeremy Toulalan and Ribery.
France's best chance of the first half came just before the break when Malouda tested the home keeper with a fierce drive which Mathlouthi did well to parry away for a corner.
France boss Raymond Domenech made two changes at the break, bringing on Thierry Henry and Marc Planus for Ribery and Eric Abidal, but persisted with the 4-3-3 formation. Mathlouthi also went off, replaced by Hamdi Kasraoui in goal.
The changes did not alter the course of the game immediately with the visitors having the better of possession but failing to create much in the final third.
Indeed, it took a set-piece to get France back on level terms. Gourcuff whipped in a free-kick from the left and Gallas got ahead of his marker to guide the ball past Kasraoui.
The goal prompted wholesale changes from Domenech with Anelka, Patrice Evra, Gallas and Gourcuff all going off with Andre-Pierre Gignac, Gael Clichy, Sebastien Squillaci and Abou Diaby entering the fray.
And as so often happens the changes disrupted the flow of the game.
The only chance of a poor final quarter came when Malouda fired in a shot which was parried by Kasraoui.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
