France vs Cameroon. International Match.
La Beaujoire-Louis-Fonteneau.
France 3-2 Cameroon: Dimitri Payet free-kick seals victory
Tuesday 31 May 2016 08:24, UK
Olivier Giroud and Dimitri Payet both scored as France beat Cameroon 3-2 in their penultimate warm-up match for Euro 2016.
A superb last-minute free-kick from Payet proved to be the difference between the two sides after goals from Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Choupo-Moting had earlier cancelled out strikes from Blaise Matuidi and Giroud.
A number of Premier League players were in action for Les Blues in Nantes, including Hugo Lloris, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, N'Golo Kante and Yohan Cabaye.
And it was Didier Deschamps' side that started the stronger of the two teams - going ahead after just 20 minutes when Matuidi fired home a well-timed volley.
Cameroon hit back almost immediately through Aboubakar, who capitalised on some poor marking in the box to level the scores straight from the kick-off.
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The impressive Paul Pogba dominated the midfield throughout the match and saw a header flash narrowly wide as the first half drew to a close.
And it was the Juventus midfielder who set up France's second in the 41st minute with a magnificent cross-field assist to Giroud, who made no mistake with a first-time finish into the bottom corner.
France remained ahead throughout the majority of the second half but with just two minutes left on the clock, Cameroon were allowed to hit back for a second time through Choupo-Moting, who instinctively finished after a Fabrice Ondoa goal-kick was allowed to bounce by the French defence.
France had been the better side and deservedly found a winner when Payet expertly curled a free-kick past Ondoa with what is now becoming a typical finish for the West Ham forward.
Euro 2016 host nation France will play Scotland in Metz on June 4 in their final warm-up match before taking on Romania in the tournament's opening game in Paris on June 10.
Deschamps will be confident of his side's chances of progressing through Group A, in which they are also due to face Albania on June 15 and finally Switzerland on June 19.