France have recorded their first win of Euro 2012 with a 2-0 triumph over co-hosts and Group D rivals Ukraine in a rain-soaked Donetsk.
Both sets of players were called off the pitch after only four minutes as severe thunderstorms forced a break in play.
However, the match was resumed nearly an hour later in much drier conditions after groundstaff had done their best to drain the pitch.
France thought that they had made the breakthrough after only 15 minutes, but Jeremy Menez had his strike correctly ruled out for offside.
The co-hosts were next on the attack and could have taken the lead when Andriy Yarmolenko dragged his shot just wide of the French goal.
Menez then had two good opportunities for France as he lashed one effort over the bar before being denied from close range by a smart save from Andriy Pyatov.
Andriy Shevchenko, who had little to feed on in the opening 45 minutes, could have found the net on the angle but for Hugo Lloris's low save.
There was one final chance of the half for Les Bleus, but Philippe Mexes's header from a corner forced a spectacular save from Pyatov.
It took Laurent Blanc's side only seven minutes after the restart to find the net as Menez's left-footed effort crept in at Pyatov's near post.
As Ukraine struggled to adjust, France doubled their lead moments later thanks to Yohan Cabaye's cool finish from Karim Benzema's incisive pass.
The Newcastle United midfielder almost bagged his second of the match soon after, but he saw his shot fly back off the post.
Ukraine offered very little in the second half and came closest to getting themselves back in the match when substitute Marko Devic dragged his shot wide.
Despite further chances for Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri, France were happy to settle for an important three points.
Jack Prescott
