France went head to head with Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday in a crucial UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying clash on Tuesday.
France held a one-point lead over second placed Bosnia and Herzegovina at the top of Group D, and the winner of this game in Paris would seal automatic qualification.
When all was said and done the French would seal qualification to their ninth successive major tournament courtesy of a 1-1 draw. The game would have a distinct Manchester City influence, as club teammates Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri would score both goals.
Bosnia started quickest and Senad Lulic dispossessed Anthony Reveillere only to fire into the side netting. France hit back but Loic Remy was unable to convert after being sent one on one with goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic.
The Bosnians continued to have the upper hand for the remainder of the first half, and received their reward five minutes before half-time. Zvjezdan Misimovic fed Dzeko with a quickly taken free kick, and the in-form striker curled an excellent effort around Hugo Lloris and into the French net.
France were stung into action after the break, and substitute goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved well to deny Marvin Martin, before tipping a Nasri free kick onto the crossbar.
City playmaker Nasri finally broke the Bosnian resistance when he was awarded a penalty after being tripped by Emir Spahic. Nasri brushed himself off before calmly sending Begovic the wrong way and assuring France of top spot in the group.
Bosnia and Herzegovina must now qualify via the playoffs, and Dzeko will be a key figure for them. The powerful forward has registered four goals and one assists in the 10 EURO 2012 qualifying games he has played so far.
LINEUPS
FRA - Lloris, Evra, Rami, Cabaye (Gameiro), Nasri, Reveillere, Menez, Malouda (Martin), M'Vila, Remy (Diarra), Abidal.
BOS - Hasagic (Begovic), Papac, Spahic, Rahimic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Dzeko, Mujdza (Maletic), Lulic, Medunjanin (Zahirovic), Pandza.
SCORING SUMMARY
BOS - Edin Dzeko (Zvjezdan Misimovic) 40'
FRA - Samir Nasri (penalty kick) 78'
When all was said and done the French would seal qualification to their ninth successive major tournament courtesy of a 1-1 draw. The game would have a distinct Manchester City influence, as club teammates Edin Dzeko and Samir Nasri would score both goals.
Bosnia started quickest and Senad Lulic dispossessed Anthony Reveillere only to fire into the side netting. France hit back but Loic Remy was unable to convert after being sent one on one with goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic.
The Bosnians continued to have the upper hand for the remainder of the first half, and received their reward five minutes before half-time. Zvjezdan Misimovic fed Dzeko with a quickly taken free kick, and the in-form striker curled an excellent effort around Hugo Lloris and into the French net.
France were stung into action after the break, and substitute goalkeeper Asmir Begovic saved well to deny Marvin Martin, before tipping a Nasri free kick onto the crossbar.
City playmaker Nasri finally broke the Bosnian resistance when he was awarded a penalty after being tripped by Emir Spahic. Nasri brushed himself off before calmly sending Begovic the wrong way and assuring France of top spot in the group.
Bosnia and Herzegovina must now qualify via the playoffs, and Dzeko will be a key figure for them. The powerful forward has registered four goals and one assists in the 10 EURO 2012 qualifying games he has played so far.
LINEUPS
FRA - Lloris, Evra, Rami, Cabaye (Gameiro), Nasri, Reveillere, Menez, Malouda (Martin), M'Vila, Remy (Diarra), Abidal.
BOS - Hasagic (Begovic), Papac, Spahic, Rahimic, Pjanic, Misimovic, Dzeko, Mujdza (Maletic), Lulic, Medunjanin (Zahirovic), Pandza.
SCORING SUMMARY
BOS - Edin Dzeko (Zvjezdan Misimovic) 40'
FRA - Samir Nasri (penalty kick) 78'
