PARIS: Olivier Giroud finally ended his run of 10 internationals without a goal by grabbing the decisive goal as World Cup holders France beat Holland in the UEFA Nations League in the Stade de France.
Kylian Mbappe set France on their way with a first-half opener but Dutch forward Ryan Babel equalised with his team’s only meaningful shot on target.
Giroud produced a moment of magic with a superb volley 15 minutes from fulltime to seal the win, as France recorded a fifth successive victory over the Dutch.
Coach Didier Deschamps said afterwards: “The victory is the most important thing for the party to be really beautiful. I’m very happy for Olivier. It happens that strikers have periods when they are less effective.
“I said before the World Cup, Olivier is often unjustly criticised. We cannot ask him to do what other attackers do, but he is very important to the team. It is when he is not there that we realise his value.”
Deschamps kept the same starting line-up that drew 0-0 with Germany on Thursday.
Germany defender Nico Schulz scored an 85th-minute goal on his international debut to settle a 2-1 win over Peru in a friendly in Sinsheim.
Schulz, one of five changes from the team that drew 0-0 with world champions France in the Nations League on Thursday, thus celebrated a memorable debut in his home Hoffenheim stadium.
Peru struck first when Luis Advincula fired in from a tight angle past keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen after charging past two Germans in the box.
Julian Brandt, another of Loew’s changes, paid him back with a superb chip in the 25th minute to draw the hosts level.
After the break Jefferson Farfan and Timo Werner missed identical chances each for Peru and Germany, shooting over the bar after quick breaks.
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