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Attendance: 55,000
France national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Sep 10, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Andorra national football team

3-0

Coman (18'), Lenglet (52'), Ben Yedder (91')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Didier Deschamps happy with France progress after win over Andorra

Deschamps happy with France progress after win over Andorra
© Reuters
Les Bleus have opened up a gap over third-placed Iceland.

France manager Didier Deschamps feels his side have started to find their rhythm again after the world champions saw off Andorra 3-0 in Saint-Denis to stay on course for Euro 2020 qualification.

With Turkey also winning, 4-0 away in Moldova, Les Bleus are kept off the top of Group H on head-to-head record.

However, after Iceland were beaten in Albania, there is now daylight between them and third place ahead of a trip to Reykjavik next month.

Deschamps made four changes to the side which had beaten Albania at Stade de France on Saturday, with Tottenham midfielder Moussa Sissoko and Lille forward Jonathan Ikone both starting.

France made a bright opening to take the lead in the 18th minute through Kingsley Coman, with Antoine Griezmann then seeing a penalty saved before the break.

Defender Clement Lenglet headed in his first senior international goal soon after the restart, but a third did not arrive until substitute Wissam Ben Yedder tapped home during stoppage time.

Despite not making more of their dominant possession and shot count, Deschamps was happy enough with the end result after what was a 100th match for Les Bleus at Stade de France.

"The score could have been wider and we could have had better efficiency, that is right," Deschamps said at a press conference.

"But we still scored three goals anyway and left nothing for the opponent, who were more compact than Albania.

"We have found solutions. Obviously, the more efficiency we have, the better.

"But we scored seven goals in two games – these are things which did not happen before."

France were without the likes of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba because of injury.

Deschamps, though, feels the squad showed plenty of depth.

"It is good that those who were involved could show what they can do, even if I prefer to have everyone available," the France manager added.

"I hope that will be the case at future gatherings. The desire is there, the pleasure of playing together too.

"From the bench also, I enjoy watching them evolve. There is a common thread, and this is a very interesting idea."

After heading to Iceland, the French will host Turkey in what could be a decisive Group H fixture.

France captain Hugo Lloris, the Tottenham goalkeeper, told reporters afterwards: "Even though we had a lot of absentees, it is still important to feel strong as a group.

"It was important to take those six points, and to position ourselves for the two decisive matches in October."

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Hugo Lloris in action for Spurs on April 30, 2019
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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