- Title: Pogba's swirling shot hands France win over Dutch
- Date: 10th October 2016
- Summary: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS (OCTOBER 10, 2016) (REUTERS) FRENCH COACH, DIDIER DESCHAMPS, SITTING DOWN AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (French), FRENCH COACH, DIDIER DESCHAMPS, SAYING: "I think we deserved to win, we had more control over the match in the first half, but we created more chances in the second half, unfortunately we couldn't score the second goal and luckily Hugo (Lloris) stopped a goal in our net and allowed us to win." NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (French), FRENCH COACH, DIDIER DESCHAMPS, SAYING: "Indeed, I think we are having more control over our matches, you could see for yourself how our opponent played against us, Netherlands, the team which loves ball possession was today low on the field, we have defended ourselves very well and our attacks were very efficient." NEWS CONFERENCE IN SESSION DESCHAMPS LEAVES THE NEWS CONFERENCE DUTCH COACH, DANNY BLIND, ARRIVING AT THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Dutch), DUTCH COACH, DANNY BLIND, SAYING: "I think we were well organized, had good energy and we didn't give anything away until we conceded a goal, and as a matter of fact, at that moment when we conceded a goal we were actually playing better than them, but yeah, then the goal falls. I thought we were doing better in the second half, after I told them to keep the ball for a longer time and search for the opportunity to score, - as it is a home match against a strong opponent, you have to have more trust in the ball." NEWS CONFERENCE BLIND LEAVES THE NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 25th October 2016 23:07
- Keywords: Soccer World Cup Netherlands France
- Location: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- City: AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
- Country: Netherlands
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00153FBHHB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: France midfielder Paul Pogba, the world's most expensive player, scored with a swirling long-range shot after 30 minutes to secure a vital 1-0 win away to the Netherlands in World Cup qualifying on Monday (October 10).
The victory at the Amsterdam Arena elevated the Euro 2016 runners-up to overwhelming favourites to finish top of Group A and qualify for the finals in Russia in 2018.
France lead on seven points along with Sweden, who won 3-0 against Bulgaria, while Netherlands are third on four points.
Although each country still has seven matches left, France's win over the team expected to be their toughest opposition in the section hands Didier Deschamps' side a huge advantage.
Manchester United midfielder Pogba hit his shot from midway between the halfway line and the edge of the Dutch penalty area and it swerved wickedly to fox goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, who might have done better with his diving effort to save it.
The Netherlands made vociferous claims for a penalty four minutes before halftime when the ball struck Laurent Koscielny's arm as he dived to block Vincent Janssen's close-range shot but Slovenian referee Damir Skomina turned down the Dutch appeals.
Stekelenburg, playing only his second international in four years, denied Kevin Gameiro in the opening 15 minutes and again shortly after halftime. The rebound from the second effort fell favourably for Antoine Griezmann who put his effort wide.
The Everton keeper also used his feet to scramble the ball off his line after Pogba's 66th minute header from a corner.
Memphis Depay, who came on after 16 minutes for the injured Quincy Promes, had three chances to equalise, including a curling free kick that almost caught out Hugo Lloris and a close-range effort two minutes from time that the keeper kept out with a stunning one-handed save.
"I think we deserved to win, we had more control over the match in the first half, but we created more chances in the second half, unfortunately we couldn't score the second goal and luckily Hugo (Lloris) stopped a goal in our net and allowed us to win," France coach Didier Deschamps said.
"I think we are having more control over our matches, you could see for yourself how our opponent played against us, Netherlands, the team which loves ball possession was today low on the field, we have defended ourselves very well and our attacks were very efficient."
"I think we were well organized, had good energy and we didn't give anything away until we conceded a goal, and as a matter of fact, at that moment when we conceded a goal we were actually playing better then them, but yeah, then the goal falls," Dutch coach Danny Blind said.
"I thought we were doing better in the second half, after I told them to keep the ball for a longer time and search for the opportunity to score, - as it is a home match against a strong opponent, you have to have more trust in the ball."
France next host Sweden on Nov. 11 while the Netherlands visit Luxembourg two days later. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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