MX23RW : Wednesday, April 24 07:35:54| >> :600:336794:336794:
[monks data]
France national football team
World Cup | Qualifiers
Oct 15, 2013 at 8pm UK
 
Finland national football team

3-0

Ribery (9'), Toivio (75' pen.), Benzema (88')
FT(HT: 1-0)

France beat Finland to take place in World Cup playoffs

France run out 3-0 winners against Finland to confirm their place in the World Cup playoff draw this evening.

France have run out 3-0 winners against Finland to confirm their place in the World Cup playoff draw this evening.

Franck Ribery's solo strike, Joona Toivio's own goal and Karim Benzema's late strike gave Les Bleus the points at Parc des Princes in the final qualifying game.

Spain's victory over Georgia means that Didier Deschamps's side will have to qualify for the World Cup via the playoffs, as they were only able to finish second in Group I.

Bayern Munich star Ribery got the hosts off to a flyer when he dipped inside onto his favoured right foot after a mesmerizing run and smashed one in against the underside of the crossbar after nine minutes.

Mathieu Valbuena almost doubled the lead for the hosts when he was set up after some neat play from Ribery and Patrice Evra, but the Marseille man could only side-foot over the bar after 38 minutes.

Toivio then had the misfortune of putting through his own net when he tried to clear Olivier Giroud's headed effort.

With two minutes remaining, substitute Benzema put the gloss on the result when he rifled an effort high into the top corner.

France will learn their fate when the draw for the playoffs is made on October 21.

ID:111455: cacheID:111455:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2659:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Karim Benzema of France is mobbed by team mates after scoring the sixth goal during the International Friendly match between France and Australia at Parc des Princes on October 11, 2013
Read Next:
Preview: France vs. Finland
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Netherlands Netherlands32107
Q Senegal flag Senegal32016
3 Ecuador flag Ecuador31114
4 Qatar Qatar30030

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England32107
Q United States USA31205
3 Iran Iran31023
4 Wales flag Wales30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Argentina Argentina32016
Q Poland Poland31114
3 Mexico Mexico31114
4 Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia31023

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France32016
Q Australia Australia32016
3 Tunisia Tunisia31114
4 Denmark Denmark30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Japan Japan32016
Q Spain Spain31114
3 Germany Germany31114
4 Costa Rica flag Costa Rica31023

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Morocco Morocco32107
Q Croatia Croatia31205
3 Belgium Belgium31114
4 Canada Canada30030

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Brazil Brazil32016
Q Switzerland Switzerland32016
3 Cameroon flag Cameroon31114
4 Serbia Serbia30121

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Republic of Korea South Korea31114
3 Uruguay flag Uruguay31114
4 Ghana flag Ghana31023


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!