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Football

Cisse strikes as France find form


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Cisse blows a kiss after scoring his fourth goal for France

METZ, France -- Djibril Cisse and Florent Malouda gave France their first home win under Raymond Domenech with a 2-1 victory over Hungary in Metz on Tuesday.

But the coach could not escape being roundly booed because of his insistence on leaving out Arsenal's former Metz player Robert Pires from the squad.

A late goal by Zsombor Kerekes gave the French some nervous moments but ultimately the team, if not Domenech, left the pitch to cheers from the 26,000 crowd.

Cisse's fourth international goal came in the 10th minute when Sylvain Wiltord's pass was deflected into his path for the Liverpool marksman to coolly slot the ball beyond keeper Gabor Kiraly.

Jean-Alain Boumsong nearly made it 2-0 in the 20th minute but his header went narrowly wide as France produced some of their best football since Domenech took over after Euro 2004.

Malouda deservedly doubled the lead in the 35th minute after drifting in from the left to score his first goal for his country.

Captain for the night Wiltord almost trebled their lead five minutes into the second-half as he was released into the box.

But the Magyars replacement keeper Marton Fulop - who is the reserve keeper at Premiership side Spurs - did well to block his shot.

Hungary at least threatened the French goal for the first time in the 63rd minute as substitute Akos Takacs -- on his debut- - whipped in a low cross that Boumsong just managed to squeeze out for a corner before Kerekes got to it.

Kerekes made no mistake 15 minutes from time when brilliantly found by Tamas Hajnal he unleashed an unstoppable shot past Gregory Coupet for his second goal in five internationals.

Angry reactions

Commenting on the crowd's angry reactions Domenech said: "I really felt sorry for the players who were on the pitch.I can understand that people don't agree with my choices but the problem is that I'm the one in charge.

"If it was just about me, I wouldn't have made any comments about this.

"It's not the first time that I was booed on a pitch...I'm used to it. But I'm sad for my guys.

"Asking for another guy to play when the team is doing a great job, it's humiliating. It's a lack of respect for those who are struggling for the win."

One of the banners read: "Pires in the national squad, Domenech out".

Another claimed: "Domenech, tonight it's our whole region which hates you", while a third said: "Pires we are missing you".

The coach said the door was still open to everyone and denied he had ruled Pires out for good.

"I pick my squad according to the performance of the players with their clubs," said Domenech.

"My first intention remains to qualify France for next year's World Cup and nothing else."


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