New Manchester United signing Anthony Martial made his senior France debut last night as the Euro 2016 hosts beat Portugal 1-0 in an international friendly.
The 19-year-old striker, who arrived at Old Trafford on deadline-day for £36m from AS Monaco, according to BBC Sport, came of the bench on 74 minutes.
And although he could not make much of an impact, fellow substitute Mathieu Valbuena curled home a superb free-kick late on to snatch victory for Les Bleus.
In qualifying action, it was a mixed night for the home nations as both the Republic and Northern Ireland boosted their France 2016 hopes, but Scotland suffered defeat.
SEE MORE:
Premier League squads: 20 teams ranked best to worst, with striker-shy Arsenal 5th, Chelsea NOT 1st
FIFA 16 ratings: Arsenal, Man United & Tottenham WONDERKIDS to see numbers rocket
8 quality FREE AGENTS still available: Former Man United target & ex-Arsenal ace waiting to be snapped up
Gordon Strachan’s side lost 1-0 in Georgia to fall to fourth in Group D, a point behind the Republic who thrashed Gibraltar 4-0 thanks in part to a Robbie Keane double.
World champions Germany, who handed a debut to Liverpool’s Emre Can, have recovered from their slow start to the campaign to top the group by two points from Poland.
They beat their rivals 3-1 in Frankfurt yesterday, with Mario Gotze scoring a brace after Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil provided Thomas Muller with Germany’s opener.
West Bromwich Albion defender Gareth McAuley was the unlikely two-goal hero as Northern Ireland took a step closer to reaching their first major tournament since 1986 with a 3-1 win in the Faroe Islands.
Michael O’Neill’s men are now top of Group F, leapfrogging Romania who could only draw 0-0 with third-place Hungary. Top seeds Greece are still without a win after losing 1-0 at home to Finland.
Elsewhere, Chelsea duo Branislav Ivanovic and Nemanja Matic helped Serbia to a 2-0 win over Armenia which takes them onto one point – they had three deducted after a drone with a political banner was flown into the stadium during their match with Albania in Belgrade in October, as The Guardian reports.
Neither Denmark or Albania could take advantage of Portugal’s qualifying inactivity as they played out a 0-0 stalemate. Both nations are now a point behind Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
SEE ALSO:
Mesut Ozil new girlfriend: 8 red hot photos of Arsenal WAG Amine Gulse
Arsenal v Liverpool WAGs: HOT photos of Wilshere’s girlfriend, Skrtel’s wife, Ozil’s ex & Mrs Giroud
Eva Carneiro: Chelsea doctor STILL has not returned to work after Mourinho SPAT
COMMENTS