Archive
Magpies Pair Help France Triumph
Written by Newcastle Utd
Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko helped France ease to a 3-0 victory over Honduras in their World Cup fixture
By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor
Newcastle United duo Mathieu Debuchy and Moussa Sissoko helped France ease to a 3-0 victory over Honduras in their opening Group E fixture of the World Cup.
Debuchy was handed a starting role at right-back for Les Bleus in Porto Alegre on Sunday, while Sissoko was a 57th minute substitute in the middle of the park.
Real Madrid's Karim Benzema netted twice, either side of an own goal from Honduras goalkeeper Noel Valladares. Los Catrachos' misery was compounded by a first-half sending off for Wilson Palacios.
The Stoke midfielder was given his marching orders for two yellow cards, the second of which came on the stroke of half-time as he came through the back of Paul Pogba inside the penalty area. Benzema did the honours from the resulting spot kick.
Three minutes into the second period France doubled their lead. Benzema's shot struck the inside of the right-hand post and rolled across the goalline before bouncing off Valladares and in.
And the result was put beyond any doubt on 72 minutes when Debuchy's shot from a well-worked free-kick was blocked, only for Benzema to lash home the loose ball.
France's next fixture sees them take on Switzerland on Friday (8pm kick-off).
