MARYLAND, Mar 30 (V7N) — France continued their impressive run of form with a commanding 3-1 victory over Colombia in an international friendly held in Maryland, USA, on Sunday. Demonstrating immense squad depth, French manager Didier Deschamps opted for an entirely different starting eleven from the side that had previously defeated Brazil, resting his primary stars while still securing a resounding win.
The match began with France asserting dominance early on, breaking the deadlock in the 29th minute. Rising talent Didier Duy emerged as the central figure of the opening half, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to give the 2018 World Champions a 1-0 lead. The French momentum only grew as the half progressed, with Marcus Thuram doubling the advantage in the 41st minute, ensuring France headed into the tunnel with a comfortable two-goal cushion.
France effectively put the game out of reach early in the second half. In the 56th minute, Didier Duy found the back of the net for the second time, completing a brace and extending the lead to 3-0. While Colombia managed to fight back and narrow the gap in the 77th minute through a goal by Haminton Kampus, the French defense remained resolute for the remainder of the contest to see out the 3-1 result.
In another high-profile international friendly held simultaneously, Portugal and Mexico played out a tense encounter that ultimately ended in a 0-0 stalemate. Despite a flurry of attacking and counter-attacking moves from both sides, neither team could find the decisive finishing touch, leading to a goalless draw.
The victory for "The Blues" underscores their status as one of the most formidable squads in world football, proving they can maintain a high level of performance even when rotating their entire roster. Colombia, meanwhile, will look to address defensive inconsistencies as they prepare for upcoming competitive fixtures.
END/SMA/AJ
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