Sports

Brave Luxembourg hold France to draw in World Cup qualifier

Brave Luxembourg hold France to draw in World Cup qualifier

By REUTERS

France's Kylian Mbappe in action with Luxembourgu2019s Aldin Skenderovic during the 2018 World Cup Europe qualification match between France and Luxembourg, in Toulouse, France, on September 3, 2017. Photo: Reuters

TOULOUSE: Luxembourg resisted bravely under sustained pressure to hold France to a 0-0 draw in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday. Les Bleus, who had thrashed the Netherlands 4-0 on Thursday, created many opportunities and hit the woodwork twice but had to be content with a draw that puts them one point clear at the top of Group A with 17 points from eight games. Sweden are second one point back after beating Belarus 4-0 earlier on Sunday, with the Netherlands in third place a further three points adrift after beating Bulgaria 3-1. France confiscated the ball from the kickoff and had their chances in the first half, notably when Antoine Griezmann rattled the crossbar from a free kick five minutes from the break. Luxembourg, however, resisted bravely and changed ends with the tie still goalless. Defender Djibril Sidibe came close to putting France ahead with a header on 63 minutes that Luxembourg goalkeeper Jonathan Joubert did well to save and midfielder Paul Pogba hit the crossbar with a header on 73 minutes. The home side survived a fright five minutes later when a swift counter-attack from the visitors ended with midfielder Gelson Rodrigues entering the box to hit the post with an angled shot. France visit Bulgaria on October 7 while Sweden will host Luxembourg and Belarus will entertain the Netherlands.