Franck Ribery hails "beautiful" France victory

Franck Ribery has expressed his delight at how France overturned a two-goal deficit against Ukraine to qualify for the World Cup next summer.

Les Bleus went into this evening's clash at Stade de France facing an uphill task having slumped to a 2-0 defeat in the first leg in Kiev on Friday.

However, goals from Mamadou Sakho, Karim Benzema and an own goal from Oleg Gusev ensured that Didier Deschamps's men emerged as 3-2 aggregate winners and sealed their passage to Brazil in June.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Ribery - who played 90 minutes in the French capital this evening - described the victory as "beautiful".

"We have suffered so much. There was so much sadness [after losing the first leg] but it's great. It's beautiful. It has been a very long time since we have seen Stade de France like this.

"We were given a good slap in Ukraine, but we woke up and it was secured in the end. We are very, very happy.

"Now we can go back to our clubs with joy knowing that we will be in Brazil. It would have been difficult if we had not made it."

France will be joined in South America by Portugal, Greece and Croatia - all of whom successfully negotiated their respective playoff ties this evening.