CR7 ‘fires’ Portugal to 3-0 victory over Latvia

France complicate path to Russia

June 10, (AFP): France complicated their task of ensuring automatic qualification to next year’s World Cup in Russia after falling to a dramatic 2-1 defeat in Sweden.

Sweden snatched victory with an Ola Toivonen goal from the halfway line in extra time after a poor clearance from France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

The freak goal sent the massed ranks of yellow clad fans in Stockholm into a wild frenzy, but more importantly with four games to go it sent Sweden top of Group A, level on 13 points with France.

Only the winners of each group are guaranteed a place at next year’s finals in Russia, with the eight best second-placed sides competing in the play-offs.

The French will now play a crucial tie on Aug 31 against the Netherlands, who remain in the running after thrashing Luxembourg 5-0, while Cristiano Ronaldo led Portugal’s 3-0 triumph in Latvia.

France had pulled ahead through Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud after 37 minutes, but the Scandinavians levelled before the break thanks to Jimmy Durmaz (43).

And after more than three minutes of regular time Toivonen took advantage of a poor clearance from France captain Lloris with a soaring shot into the back of an empty net.

“It was a catastrophic scenario,” said coach Didier Deschamps, a

Sweden’s midfielder Sebastian Larsson (left), vies with France’s forward Kylian Mbappe during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualification football match between Sweden and France in Solna,

Sweden, on June 9. (AFP)

World Cup winner in 1998 as a player with France.

“I’m not going to heap blame on Hugo, he has often been decisive for us, but it cost us.”

The coach added that “the draw was not the ideal result but would have been a good point, which would have allowed us to keep Sweden behind”.

For Deschamps’s side it was the first defeat in qualifying and they next face a tough test against the Netherlands in Paris.

Veterans Arjen Robben (21) and Wesley Sneijder (34) laid the groundwork for a Dutch victory in coach Dick Advocaat’s first game in charge.

In the second half Georginio Wijnaldum (62) and Quincy Promes (70) scored with Vincent Janssen, adding a penalty six minutes from time.

“We have the means to cause a surprise in Paris, the group has found a positive dynamic, we will go there to win against the Bleus,” said a defiant Robben.

Advocaat, who started his third stint as Oranje coach this week, was also confident.

“Of course we are capable of winning in France, the players will be ready, I have a good feeling,” he said.

In Group B, Switzerland remain