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Les Bleus stroll to win |
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France strengthened their hold on Euro 2012 qualifying Group D with a 2-0 win over struggling Luxembourg in Metz.
Karim Benzema and Yoann Gourcuff got the goals as France won comfortably against a Luxembourg side who had captain Rene Peters sent off 10 minutes into the second half.
France started slowly but after 10 minutes Gael Clichy fired well over when Luxembourg only cleared a corner to the edge of their area.
Abou Diaby then fired wide as France tried to make their dominance pay with a goal.
Diaby then got down the right but his effort at a cross was blocked by a defender for a corner which was taken by Florent Malouda.
It found Philippe Mexes on the edge of the area but his volley after he had chested the ball down was turned round the post by goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert.
The corner from the left by Gourcuff reached and unmarked Benzema at the far post and he controlled the ball before hitting a left-foot volley as the ball bounced up which went in off the opposite post.
Diaby tried to add France's second when he shot from 30 yards after taking a touch but it failed to really trouble Joubert who got down to his right to save.
Malouda raced down the left wing but his cross was met at the near post by Guillaume Hoarau who sent his header wide of the goal.
Diaby had another shot from the edge of the area after Hoarau chested the ball down but his effort was straight at Joubert.
Hoarau was foiled early in the second half when he chased a through ball only for Joubert to get down and claim possession.
Luxembourg captain Peters was dismissed for his second bookable offence after 54 minutes when he was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Gourcuff who was taken off on a stretcher but was able to rejoin the action after receiving treatment.
Diaby should have done better when he met Anthony Reveillere's near-post cross but his header was off target.
It took an hour for Luxembourg to have their best chance but Gilles Bettmer's volley from the edge of the area was blocked by Mexes.
Diaby did well to force his way to the byline after beating three defenders and squared the ball low for Gourcuff but his shot on the run was beaten away by Joubert with his legs.
Samir Nasri got to the byline and crossed low for Hoarau but he shot into the ground and wide of the goal.
Gourcuff doubled France's advantage with 15 minutes to go when he fired low past Joubert from the edge of the area following Dimitri Payet's pass from a free-kick.
Loic Remy got down the left and pulled the ball back to the edge of the six-yard box but Nasri's first time shot was well over the bar.
Nasri nearly added a third but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked by Joubert with his foot.
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