Laurent Blanc & Karim Benzema Pleased With France’s Win Over Brazil

Even though Brazil played more than half of Wednesday's match against France with 10 men, Laurent Blanc was pleased with the 1-0 result.
France coach Laurent Blanc was left satisfied with les Bleus’ 1-0 victory over Brazil on Wednesday evening.

A goal from Karim Benzema early in the second half gave the Europeans victory in the high-profile friendly, but the hosts perhaps should have won by a greater margin as they missed a glut of chances to increase their advantage.

In the closing stages, the Selecao, who had been reduced to 10 men after the first half expulsion of Hernanes, occasionally threatened, though Blanc was pleased overall.

“We are always happy to win a match, especially at home and in front of this crowd,” he said, according to Goal.com France. “Brazil remain a great team, even if they were reduced to 10 men.”

While it was inevitably those who earned some game-time who will catch the headlines, the former Girondins de Bordeaux boss was happy with his full squad over the last few days.

“[The coach staff] have been pleased with the whole group, not just those who played,” he explained.

Match-winner Benzema was also happy and said, “I am very pleased with the manner [of our win],” he told TF1 after the encounter. “We saw a very good football game.

“It's always a pleasure to score. I was keen to succeed against this great footballing nation. I am very happy, like the entire France team.”

Les Bleus next travel to Luxembourg for a European Championship qualifier in March, before meeting Croatia in another Paris friendly.