TEN-MAN Wales have been soundly beaten by France after Neco Williams was harshly sent off.
Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele were on target to secure a crushing win for the French.
However Danny Ward will have done his chances of obtaining the number one jersey for Euro 2020 no harm after pulling off a spectacular save from Karim Benzema’s penalty, following Williams’ handball.
Benzema, playing for France for the first time since 2015, pulled his penalty low to the left, but the Leicester goalkeeper was equal to it.
GOODNIGHT FROM NICE
That’s all from the French Riviera where Wales are the latest team to succumb to the world champions.
Rob Page’s warm-up plans were disrupted by an incredibly harsh red shown to Neco Williams in the first half, but there were still some positives for the Dragons ten days ahead of their Euro 2020 opener.
Despite conceding three, the performance of goalkeeper Danny Ward was excellent, the highlight of which was the save that kept out Karim Benzema’s penalty with the score at 0-0. The Leicester stopper has ramped up the pressure on regular number one, Wayne Hennessey.
It’s Albania next for Wales for another warm-up this Saturday, and then things gets serious: their first game is against the Swiss in Baku on June 12th.
PAGE’S WALES ROBBED
Rob Page was also critical of the decision to send off Neco Williams for deliberate handball. Wales’ interim head coach feels the dismissal ruined what was shaping up to be an intriguing content.
It’s very harsh. We’ve looked back at it at half-time, and the fourth official apologised to me which makes it a little worse. Any defender that jumps to clear the ball, his hands come up in a natural position like that, it’s impossible for him to do anything else. He’s not done it intentionally, and that changes the course of the game and absolutely spoils it.
Rob Page
BLANK AND BLEUS
While it’s been a difficult night for the Welsh with ten men, world champions France have been busy setting themselves up nicely for another international tournament.
Didier Deschamps’ team have now won three on the bounce without conceding a goal.
DAN’S THE MAN
Forward Daniel James paid tribute to goalkeeper Danny Ward for his display in Nice, but only after blasting referee Luis Godinho for his decision to award France a first half penalty and send off Neco Williams.
I’m not one to talk about referees, but it’s a friendly game and he’s taken ten minutes to look at the incident, and then decided that it’s clear and obvious. I don’t know how it can be, [Benzema’s] two yards out. I’m not even sure it’s a penalty because we’ve been told that if he’s in a natural position and he can’t do anything about it, then it’s not even a penalty. It wasn’t on purpose, even their players were asking not to send him off.
[Danny Ward] was absolutely fantastic. I know we conceded three goals, but I thought he was the best player on the pitch. He made some unbelievable saves, and kept four or five out. If it wasn’t for him, it would have been even more.
Daniel James
COLWILL POWER
One other positive for Rob Page to take from tonight is the introduction of 19-year-old Rubin Colwill for his international bow.
Hopefully, the Cardiff midfielder has a long career for his country ahead of him.
FT: FRANCE 3-0 WALES
France prevail at the Allianz Riviera with a comfortable three-goal win over Wales courtesy of strikes from Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele. Despite losing Neco Williams to a preposterous red card in the first half, there were plenty of positives for Rob Page to take, not least the performance of goalkeeper Danny Ward, who saved a Karim Benzema penalty.
PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THE ACTION COMES TO A CLOSE IN NICE!FRANCE 3-0 WALES
90+2. “Welcome to the Championship, son.”
Kieffer Moore gives Jules Kounde the traditional Cardiff City welcome by flailing his arms into the face of the youngster as he attempted to break free on the far touchline.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
90. There will be two minutes of stoppage time, according to the fourth official.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
89. I think Rob Page knew his starting 11 against Switzerland next week, all being well, but the performance of Danny Ward in goal this evening must surely have him in contention to be first-choice ahead of Wayne Hennessey.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
86. Benzema must have avoided these multiple substitutions in order to get his goal, but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.
His latest attempt is a crisp curler a yard high and wide of the far post.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
84. Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder is thrown into the mix as France’s latest substitute. He’s on for Antoine Griezmann.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
83. Benzema denied again!
Ward produces another excellent save to keep out the striker’s header from a corner, and then the Welsh win a free-kick in the clamour for the loose ball.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
82. The game has long been up for Wales, but here’s a moment to treasure for young Rubin Colwill.
The 19-year-old is on for his international debut in place of Joe Morrell.
FRANCE 3-0 WALES
79. What does Karim Benzema need to do to score on his return to the national team?
Having had a first half penalty brilliantly saved, he is now denied by the woodwork after doing everything right.
The striker chests down Jules Kounde’s pull-back to take himself away from Joe Rodon, and then unleashes a thumping shot on the turn.
It looks destined for the bottom corner, but thumps the inside of the post and rebounds out to Ousmane Dembele, who converts first time into the empty net.
GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!
OUSMANE DEMBELE MAKES IT THREE!!FRANCE 2-0 WALES
76. Brooks goes for the dink over the wall, but only succeeds in striking it.
The changes goes.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
75. Ramsey earns Wales a free-kick with a bursting run, and – for his involvement – Varane earns himself a yellow card.
This is a promising position for the visitors with which to test Lloris.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
73. Kylian Mbappe’s night is over. The young superstar is replaced by Ousmane Dembele.
It’s been refreshing to see the PSG forward in action without Neymar attempting to get all of the attention.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
72. Dan James’ pace on the counter to continues to trouble the host, but that conundrum may have just been dealt with.
The forward is off for David Brooks, moments after a promising move ends with Morrell’s hopelessly overhit cross.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
70. France threaten, first with the pace of Conan on the right, and then with the skill of Mbappe on the right.
Eventually, Benzema takes charge and strikes at goal with a shot that’s deflected wide for a corner.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
68. Morrell does more donkey work in midfield, again to excellent effect.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
66. Wales’ best moment of the night.
Ramsey slips James in on goal from the right with a beauty of a pass, presenting him with the time and space to strike across Lloris.
The Manchester United man does everything right, but the France goalkeeper is equal to it, pushing the ball out and away from Moore following up.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
64. Two more subs for the French.
Here come Kingsley Coman and Mousa Sissoko, it’s au revoir to Paul Pogba and Corentin Tolisso.
FRANCE 2-0 WALES
63. An early indication for Davies as to the size of the task Wales are facing.
The defender loses his man at a corner but fortunately wins a free-kick in his tussle with Kimpembe.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
