Brave Wales come up short in Paris
FRANCE underlined their status as World Cup contenders next summer with an impressive 2-0 friendly win over Wales in Paris.
Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud scored as Wales endured a tough night in their first game since their own World Cup hopes were ended by the Republic of Ireland last month.
Chris Coleman was a helpless spectator in what could prove to be one of his final games in
On target: Antoine Griezmann
charge of Wales. Talks are set to resume between Coleman and the Football Association of Wales after Tuesday’s friendly with Panama in Cardiff.
Although his side were well beaten at the Stade de France with the hosts striking the woodwork three times, there was encouragement for the future with the promising debuts of Ethan Ampadu and David Brooks and another impressive cameo from Ben Woodburn.
But France’s front line of Griezmann, Giroud and Kylian Mbappe caused all sorts of problems.
Griezmann struck after 18 minutes and France put the game to bed on 72 minutes when Mbappe found Giroud and a deflection off James Chester ended up in the net. PATRICE Evra has been released by Marseille and banned from all European club matches until June 30, 2018 after kicking his own supporter in the head ahead of last Thursday’s Europa League game against Vitoria Guimaraes.
The former Manchester United defender was also fined £8,829, Uefa have announced.
French football authorities may yet also impose a domestic ban on the veteran left-back.
Marseille and Evra mutually agreed to terminate his contract,
Penalised: Patrice Evra
which was always the most likely result after fans made their feelings known that the 36-year-old was not welcome back at the Velodrome.
A banner in the stands last weekend read: “We don’t want you in our colours anymore. Evra f *** yourself.”
Marseille’s new American owner Frank McCourt said that Evra’s behaviour could not be tolerated.
And Marseille confirmed late yesterday that Evra had left the club with a statement that had praised his behaviour up until last week’s incident.
“He has committed the irreparable in responding to the outrageous provocations of a handful of individuals. That said, nothing would justify such actions,” it read.