France v Honduras Match of the Day Live

England. And Italy. Goodness me, that was close. Daniel Sturridge in

the middle. Loads of room on the right, again. It's a problem we need

to sort out fast. A lovely dummy. Through the crowd. It has been

coming. Good ball for Wayne Rooney. Good finish from Daniel Sturridge!

England's level instantly. Fantastic defending.

The dummy to Leighton Baines. He's going to get there! Wayne Rooney!

Italy are off to a winning start. Italy were a very good team tonight

and we fell a very good team tonight and we followed it short, but we

still have the rest of the group. Good evening. England stumble in the

jungle but all is not lost and we still believe it. Especially if they

continue to play like that. Our game today is Honduras vs France. Since

winning the World Cup in 1998, it's been the good, the bad and the ugly.

France. They have scored first in the World Cup final. Yes! France

have won the World Cup for the first time.

Senegal have scored the first goal of the 2002 World Cup. The gods have

decided the French are not going to stay in this World Cup. Henry is

there. Straight into the chest. Italy win the World Cup! Nicolas

Anelka has been sent off. And South African lead! There is nothing left.

France go home. Yes, mixed bag. There is Didier

Deschamps arriving in Porto Alegre. There is Giroud, recognisable from

Arsenal. Honduras are coached by Luis Fernando Suarez. They played

out a goalless draw against England in their final warm up game in

Miami. Joining us in the studio, teary Omri, Clarence Rudolph and the

first Welshman to qualify for the World Cup since 1958, Robbie Savage

-- teary Henry. First of all, England's performance. Having spent

a bid of time there, what do you think? You know, I was actually

thinking about it last night and I thought they were unlucky at times.

They played well for a good spell of the game. When you play against the

Italians, you have to make sure you score because they are one two,

three maybe. I thought they were unlucky. Clarence, you've spent so

much time in Italy. The perfect person to ask about the Italian

side. They do find a way, don't they? They found a way and have a

great quality in midfield. That's their big strength. It gives them

control. When the need to slow down the game, they have the players to

do it. I agree. There were unlucky moments for England. Quite a lot. I

saw them playing well and they have to be confident for the next game.

There always seems to be a debate, whatever it is, whether it's going

well or not, for Wayne Rooney. It's always a topic of conversation and

once again, that's the case post-match. On the left-hand side,

he becomes the scapegoat. Roy has got a massive decisions to make.

Really lead Wayne Rooney out? He has to play in the number ten position.

That's my best position. Plainly there. If not, leave him out of the

team because there better left-hand side player for England than Wayne

Rooney. Can England still go through? There is a possibility but

you find yourself in a situation now where, the team that loses has to

go. It's hard but, again, I actually enjoyed watching the English team

for 60 minutes. If they can play like that, and do a couple of

tactics, I think they can make it. Thank you very much. I'm the only

English man in here. We have to remain confident. Believe in

ourselves, for once. What do you think? Will England qualify? Vote at

the Honduras vs France page on the website. Send us a treat. The vote

will close 30 minute into the match and we will give the result

half-time. The only game in this group to post earlier today when

Switzerland took on Ecuador. Ecuador took a first half lead when Valencia

was left unmarked header business goal in as many games. Switzerland

equalised in similar fashion. They scored two minutes after coming on,

the substitute. It was another Swiss substitute who clinched victory

deepened the Scottish -- stoppage time. A low cross by Rodriguez.

Incredible scenes at the end of the game. Real euphoria amongst the

Swiss, as you might expect. That's the only game so it's pretty self

explanatory. Conditions are more favourable this

afternoon in Porto Alegre than they were in Manaus because of the most

southern -based venue in the tournament. The city will host five

games. There is the stadium, the Estadio Beira-Rio, which has a

capacity of almost 50,000. Jonathan Pearce and Martin Keown. Good

afternoon for the eye was close to the French moderation is four years

ago for the hectic. Nicholas Anoka sent home. It ended disastrously but

here Martin, I think we will see a different French side under Didier

Deschamps. He won the cup as captain. Very much so, they are full

of confidence. Where they came back against Ukraine from 2-0 down, we

saw them play against Jamaica recently. Benzema coming into form

but I'm surprised Giroud didn't start today. He has gone were the

tried and tested player from Real Madrid. He has and I

tried and tested player from Real Madrid. He has can see why he's done

that because it gives extra mobility his finishing and assists have been

different class. Griezmann on the wing, look out for him. He's a real

talent. For the French side, such a talented player, but what about

Honduras? Very physical against Brazil. It's the basic 4-4-2 from

them? Yes, they are very physical and aggressive. Two guys up front.

Costly and Benzema might need to look after each other. Plenty of

Premier League interest in the Hernandez -- Honduras side. Will

there be a shock today, I wonder? We shall see. The French are fancied to

be enjoying themselves but the very different story arc in South Africa

four years ago. Eddie Butler has the story.

TRANSLATION: I told the players that tarnished the image of France. It's

a moral disaster for French football. France, with a glowing

modern history. World Cup champions in 1998, World Cup finalists 2006.

2010. A different story. The manager had some strange ideas, the power of

strong G. On the field, not so out of this world. -- the power of

astrology. France are not out but they are certainly down and it's out

of their hands. After defeat to Mexico, Nicolas Anelka with some

choice words. The manager sent him home. The players showed

solidarity, leading to a showdown between players and coaching staff

and strike action. It had to end. There was a game to play. But if

ever a situation was anything but resolved with a handshake, this was

it. South Africa have a second against

the 1998 World Cup winners! The expression is a bemused. There is

nothing left for the manager. France's World Cup meltdown. 2010.

You were part of the French team. You didn't get much of a look in in

that tournament, but part of that thing, give us the players

perspective of that story. It was a bad World Cup, to be honest. Like

was said in the commentary before, we wanted to show support to Nicolas

Anelka. Was Nicholas Anoka add a border with what he did? I don't

know what he did in the dressing room. My point was, if you sent

home, you're saying what's on the paper was true, and I don't know

what he said in the dressing room. It was a loud type of thing. We just

wanted to show support to our team-mate. That's were the only

things we could do was team. The perspective as he went on strike,

you wouldn't get off the bus to train? That was a signing session.

That's why you see is coming and going to sue the fans and signing

because we said we were going to do that, but the main thing for me is

everybody thought we were going to play against South Africa and we

never said that, we just wanted to show support. So you never intending

to miss a game? Not at all, it was just showing support for team-mate

and it was the right thing to do. In hindsight, would have done things

differently as a team? I guess so. A lot of people suffered because of

it. It wasn't the right thing to do maybe, but once you were there, you

know how it is. You don't see people losing games. Things went out of

control. Maybe knowing... Was the manager wrong, as well? Everybody.

We were a team. It didn't go well for us. We have a good, young squad

now. Didier Deschamps has managed things well? There's no

discontentment? Yes, he had the natural respect because what they've

done for the team and for France. Two great players, now in charge.

Hopefully, he can bring success to Les Bleus over there because

everywhere he goes, usually wins so hopefully the can. He supposed to be

a lucky player, lucky manager for the Manuel Pacini said I wonder if

he was dropped on the church font when he was born? When you always

see a player going somewhere, and he wins, you always go, like, that guy

is so lucky. Didier Deschamps, as a player, he did it as a coach now.

Wherever he goes, he wins. He has to be someone who is doing well. He's a

great coach. Hopefully he can lead his team to winning the World Cup.

It would be a massive task. I'm sure that he has good skills. The usual

thing is, you have to create your luck. OK, Didier Deschamps's World

Cup and opening Championship winner of course, and there he is. 47

players in 22 games in charge. Here is the team he is gone for today.

Varane won the Champions League medal with Real Madrid. Pogba won

the under 20 with under France last year. Is one of the stars of the

tournaments. Cabaye let the other two attack. Paul Pogba, you really

do like him? He reminds me of someone very confident, in a way.

Makes the game look so easy. You feel Reich the guy needs to almost

be challenged, if not he'll dominate the midfield and try something. When

you see him play, it seems like he has time on the ball, always tries

something new, has a great strike rate. It's up to him to take it to

another level. Sir Alex Ferguson let him slip through the net, didn't he?

Really poor decision. Reports that he was worth ?60 million. And

Benzema, Spotlight is on him, the wonderfully gifted footballer,

perhaps doesn't always score the goals you would expect? He does so

much work for the team and he's underestimated. He's so tactically

good. Thinks about the team more than about himself. That's most

probably the reason why he's never the one scoring the goals but the

work he does in the game, the way he plays the game, his tactical and

technical ability is immense. Really, we are going to enjoy

another great striker. Champions League winner as well? When you have

got Ronaldo and Bale, and you are part of that team, been Benz is

top-class. As for Honduras on their way to Brazil, they became only the

second team ever to defeat Brazil in a World Cup qualifier. Dan Walker

has the lowdown. When how due wrasse qualifieded for

a second straight World Cup, the Prime Minister declared a public

holiday -- holt due wrasse. Outside war zones, Honduras has the highest

murder rate in the world. A team coached by Louis Suarez, not

that one. There are some familiar faces,

Figueroa, Palacios, six of the squad in total are based in British

football. They are compact and very physical and they tend to favour a

4-4-2. In the two previous World Cups, 198 And 2010, they failed to

win a game with three draws and three defeats and in South Africa,

they didn't even register a goal, going down 1-0 to Chile, 2-0 to

Spain and drawing with Switzerland. There are the Hondurans warming up.

They have won just one in seven of their games of the build-up. Good

togetherness and team spirit. Robbie, take us through the team.

4-4-2. There is the keeper, Valladares. Only 5'10", so

vulnerable for crasses. Back four, Izaguirre and Celtic's left back. On

the left side, Beckeles and Bernardez.

Midfield, Espinoza will come inside to Joan Garrido. Najar on the right,

a 21-year-old from Anderlecht, looking forward to seeing him

against Evra. He's got to supply the crosses for the two upfront.

Bengtson and Costly, 50 international goals between them.

Bengtson is fantastic in the air and will be a threat.

The two centre halves in France will have to look out for them. I saw

Thierry nodding in agreement there about Bengtson. Old-fashioned

Swagger. He just scores, he'll make the cross and he can hold the ball

well to make sure that the midfielder can join. Not only him,

he's been a good player. I'm not going to make them sound like they

are that great because I want France to win, but they can play, you know,

they can surprise a lot of teams after today.

It's just like, you see the goal they score, it will be in the box.

If it's crossed, he will be in the box. The physical side. England saw

that? Yes. You know, it's very important how you use certain

moments of the game when you see that a team has to recoup a little

bit to slow the pace of the game and therefore you need some quality

players like Italy, of course, and maybe Gerrard was a little bit by

himself to make things happen. Robbie, how did Honduras go about

settling on paper a much better team than France? Many my career, we used

to go out there strong and physical when we played against Thierry

Henry, we were lost around him. We were on him all-time, not giving him

a minute to settle. You liked playing against that team, didn't

you, Thierry? Yeah, we managed! LAUGHTER I have to say it, you know.

No, you obviously want to be in their face and make sure they won't

have time on the ball. If you let good balls two to Benzema, you will

be in trouble. There was a headline after the first leg of the play-off

game against Ukraine when they lost 2-0 that said, is this the worst

French team ever" and they have come a long way since then? When we don't

perform, you know, it's like that. You guys know a bit more than back

home. I'm sure you know more about some crazy titles than we to in

France, but after the Ukraine game, everybody basically kind of thought

that we were out and they responded well. Young team, but to come back

like that in the Al quickation round is not easy but we managed to do it.

What is your view about the young, emerging side? Starting with the

coach, he's the rite man for the job, great experience, charisma,

personality and a young player but also young experienced players which

is very important. There are a number of important records on the

list already for some players so I expect the French can be a strong

side. In the last World Cups, the French is got to the final or not

qualified for the group stage, so the first game is vital for them?

That's why I think, in the last game, Benzema played on the left,

but it's a World Cup, it's a game, that's why he's gone with Benzema

down the middle. Personally, I only remember 98 and

06, but there is something we don't talk about. The unsung hero that you

don't mention, you know, but Matuidi is a good player for us because

he'll clean the areas. When he has the ball, he can see the game. He at

the moment is scoring a lot of goals for Paris St Germain or for the

national team. Watch out for him, he's a good one. You were saying

earlier on that you thought this team is right for doing really well

at the Euros which of course is in France? That is how personally I see

it. If they can win it, so be it, I'll be the first guy to be happy,

but you would like for them to reach a quarter-final, get the momentum

knowing about a great competition. You fancy France to win this

particular game? Yes. Yes. Yes. Unanimous.

Let's join Jonathan Pearce and Martin Keown.

Good evening, everyone. Conditions will certainly suit France here. A

breezy afternoon just before tea time it is here, I guess, 1,000

miles south of Rio, the coolest of the World Cup venues. We've got

temperatures around about 18 at this moment in time, patchy blue skies

above us. We had autumnal rain yesterday and the leaves are falling

from the trees here as we get ready for the two anthems of the national

sides, the big French contingent here to see if they can get off to a

better start than they did four years ago. And indeed in Germany

before that and Hoult in the fast when they lost against Senegal in

the opening game of 2002 -- and out in the Far East.

I believe the anthems must have been played, but certainly in the

stadium, we didn't hear them at all. The players have got fed up of

waiting and have gone down the hand shake. Well, what will we expect to

happen next at this World Cup when the first of the million people

settled in Brazil from France years ago, couldn't have known what to

expect. They haven't scored in their opening match since winning the

trophy in 1 8. They suffered that blow when Riberi was ruled out. The

experiment of playing Real Madrid's wider way works. Giroud through the

middle. Griezmann makes his competitive debut at the age of 23.

Varane at the back will partner Liverpool's Sakho, the Champions

League-winning defender. It's a completely different sort of France

here, led by Lloris, the captain. Beckeles was sent off in the England

game. No suspension from a friendly. Bernardez's nickname is the

Nightmare. Unity is back to the acrimonious

dressing room. There's Louis Fernandez Suarez, the

Honduran coach. He's led them to two Cup Finals. Dangerous to

underestimate anyone at these World Cup finals of 2014 that,'s for sure.

There's young Griezmann of Real Sociedad, only his fifth cap for his

country, only scored three. Benzema, 21 goals, six in six since

he went over 1000 in 200 minutes without a goal back to November

2013. And the referee has been a FIFA official since 2011. The

substitutes benches there. Remy expected to come on. Schneiderlin

had a wonderful season with Southampton and Palacios, the

brother on the bench for Honduras. You 'll remember, they had three

brothers go to South Africa four years ago. They are yet to win a

World Cup game. The only group there if France is one of the last 12

years. Honduras will defend the goal away

to the right hand side in the first half. There's Evra, the man who had

to tell the management that they had effectively down tooled in South

Africa 2010 ahead of the signing session. Henry found that very

interesting, talked about that in the studio. At last we have a

version out of the football-playing staff about that.

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing Cabeella in midfield. Cabaye

in midfield. We'll have to wait for the referee

to get his official to get is underway. France, kicking from left

to right in the first half. In the Estadio Beira-Rio. We've had no

announcements of the teams or the anthems. I can only imagine the

tannoy system has broken down. It comes out towards Palacios in the

penalty area. You can see straight away Honduras will leave -- lead

Costly at the front. What a promising youngster he is. I

think he's a top player. Here is a chance. You can see his pace. That's

what he's about. He is a giant of a man. Very, very quick.

Others grab a headline of Matuidi does a lot of the work.

Nothing wrong with conditions here for football. Absolutely perfect.

Almost a perfect touch there from Benzema. A lovely cushion to his

chest. You can see Debuchy on his right. It's a real feature of the

way the French are willing to play now.

Honduras tried to get out wide to Izaguirre. His first name is on the

back of his shirt. He's got some pace, Izaguirre.

In towards Espinoza, with the long hair. The flag is raised, anyway.

The French slogan for this World Cup is impossible is not French, quote

from Napoleon. It's written on the side of the players coach. And they

are absolutely determined to put the wrongs of four years ago right.

Valbuena, such a talented player. Could light up these finals.

Has Benzema filled out a bit more over the last 12 months? He

certainly stronger than he was in the build-up to Africa for years

ago. Yes, he's been doing extra training with his team-mate and

looks a lot fitter. The wingers come in on the ball an awful lot. He's

got really good quality. Benzema not picked for the World Cup 2010. Only

a few goals in qualifying for this. Oh, that's offside. France will have

to watch for those long balls played to the front runners. Sakho was ball

watching a little bit. Here's in this team ahead of Koscielny because

of his leadership qualities. He was captain for Paris Saint-Germain when

he was just 17. He's a real leader of men but I'm not sure who the most

gifted of central defenders. Six foot two, in the air. He was

pressurising on the ground there. Sakho had a nightmare end to the

season with Liverpool, of course, in that 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace.

Espinoza trying to force it through, though Wigan man. Out to Izaguirre.

A very good season on the left-hand side for Celtic. Figueroa, is 150th

appearance. Pogba, Europe's Young Player of the

Year. Valbuena. They say he's often away from Marseille, this summer.

Eight years there. He's been a terrific player for them. A

dangerous cross into the middle. It comes to Griezmann. The first chance

of a game for France. Deceived by the flight. Evra

deceived, conceding the free kick. It's not good to see the imaginary

yellow cards brandished, but you can already see their the pace of him. I

think Evra has underestimated his pace and come off second best there.

Maybe a dead leg. He was born in Santa Cruz. A teasing cross. He

flapped at that little bit, the keeper. This kid they brought on,

Majar, he was smuggled into Virginia aged 13 to play football in the

states. Taken across country as a young lad. Laid at the see United.

And then came to Europe last year. Evra is struggling. He's very highly

thought of. A good turn of pace. The French are playing very high with

their full-backs. They need space to attack behind.

Just filling in at the moment for Evra. Look how deep Cabaye is. He is

the springboard for these attacks. It's got great vision, as well. Back

on the field of play for Evra. Debuchy pubs across them. No

pressure on the goalkeeper. He has done well there, Debuchy.

Izzy waving goodbye to St James' Park next season? Debuchy. The free

kick given. The movement is causing the problems. Interchanging, the

triangle passes. It's a good start for the French. He is trusted,

Valbuena. He has been an ever present under Didier Deschamps.

Played 20 minutes against Mexico. Such a talented player. The early

pressure is on Honduras. Valbuena's free kick. That spray has been used

in a South American club football for years. Audiences here and

spectators are used to it. It works well. Pogba at the moment in an

offside position. Sakho is back in there. Back to Benzema. Not hard

enough. It was difficult to head it into the box. A little bit more to

the gold, as good a player as he is, is not going to get that in. They

have set the benchmark year, France, for the other countries with high

hopes. They certainly have. Very early in this tournament, they've

been absolutely outstanding. The team got together and started

supremely well but still a long way to go, of course. 2006, everybody

said because of the quality of their football, Argentina would walk it

that they went out. Handball. Free kick to France. A wry smile on the

face of Figueroa. Clearly felt it was hard done by. Same position.

Almost exactly the same. You can see the spray. I think this one will be

really with dinner. Benzema has taken a position where Pogba was

standing moments ago. Sakho is in there. Varane is further across.

Evra is in there as well. Griezmann on the edge of the box. Good solid

punch from the goalkeeper. He's been outstanding in a couple of senior

tournament he's played. Valladares. You would expect him to go with that

one though, wouldn't you? Captain number one for over a decade. 100

caps. A legend in Honduran football. Pogba, such a gifted player.

Manchester United's loss. Here he is again. Add a game for Valbuena, who

has been outstanding so far. Bengtson, dangerous in the air for

the New England Revolution club. He doesn't score a lot.

I saw Bernardez play against Brazil in November. How he stayed on the

pitch. His treatment of name up was shameful. He played it out of play

there. They are not shy of putting in a few challenges, a few swift

ones. There was a moment where they kept the ball and were looking OK

suddenly, they lose their concentration and give it away. You

don't want to give it away games this French team because already you

can see they are in the mood. Lots of options on the ball and they are

impressing me in these early stages. Poor against Uruguay four years ago,

poor against Mexico, and the last game against South Africa, a sense

of relief when the full-time whistle went for them. A file there. -- run

words here for Palacios, who would be advised to move away.

He can't have any complaints about that, Izaguirre. Simply not quick

enough to get back. Another one of these wide free kicks again. He

won't be happy, Martin, because it seemed it was his momentum which

took him into it. He will see at a different way, of course. Pogba in

the box. Tall and lean. The bulky Benzema. Sakho with his

back towards the free kick. The referee is in there. The referee

wants a word. With Sakho. Two precious goals for his country.

Headed away. Not quite. A splendid save by Valladares. He denies

Matuidi. Yeah, I mean, another inviting cross between them. He

flicks it onto the bar. That was some save from there. Outstanding

save from the keeper. That's the closest we've had two goals so far.

France were their first goal of the game.

Only three goals for this country. Debuchy. All the way through.

Matuidi will two and get it. Big force for club and country now.

Cabaye. Newcastle fans disspirited when they saw him depart.

Deflection. Chance for Honduras to draw breath in this match. The

French are really taking it to them and showing athleticism of their

own. Matuidi and Pogba, real athletes.

Open play in the last six games of the World Cup. The referee just

having a look at him. Side foot. Imagination on the

finish, it's a great save from the keeper.

Matuidi denied. What a title his club had this year.

An appeal. Got him rather hot under the collar. First of all, an appeal

for a challenge by Benzema. Not sure if he has got injured there. He

clunked him. Unhappy that Palacios went down. And there is an edge to

this game. You will have read about it, I guess, when asked about the

Honduran physical attributes against England and against Brazil in the

warm-up friendlies, it was said that they try to say they have other

qualities as well. It didn't go down very well in the Honduras camp. They

are also unhappy with the TV documentary painting Honduran

football in a bad light. This would be a real blow here. His hand is all

over him. Whether he's gone down feeling he might have got a booking

against himself. They are really being worked by the French in the

early stages of the game. He's OK. It would have been a real blow for

him because he's the real hard man at the back.

Just designed to take the rhythm out of the French. Got a good core of

players that saw them through. Benzema. Beckeles. Najar. Beckeles

away. One of the Olimpia players who's had such a good season. All

the football is coming from France though. Lovely turn there from

Pogba. He can play, this fella. Down to Griezmann.

There'll be no way back in the game. We have seen this World Cup could

spring a surprise on us. Evra in the back of the penalty

area, did well. Macyous. Finds Debuchy, pushing on

against Espinoza, driving in the cross. Relief for Honduras to settle

and get a breather. They have been under the cosh for almost all of the

opening 20 minutes. The cross is reining in Fernandez there, another

header. Not particularly warm here. You can't say they are overly worked

or out of breath, it's just the quality of the French team.

Comfortable in possession as well. Lovely to hear Thierry Henry in the

studio, saying when he was asked about the failures of 2010, he

preferred to remember 2006 and 199, the destruction of Brazil in Paris

that day one of the great World Cup final performances -- 1998. We had

World Cup winners in our Arsenal team and you look back and we should

have won more because we had some outstanding players, none better

than the French. Full of drive, determination and

danger now. Benzema. Goes back out to Cabaye.

Yes, Cabaye should be hitting the target. He's a long way out. He

mounts the attack, but he darts around the pitch. A great little

passer and mover. He can see a pass and it comes out to Cabaye on the

edge of the box, a long way out. Here he is now. Scuffs the shot

wide. Pogba. He's like a bully in that

midfield, Pogba. Nice balance to their play, pushing it around neatly

and tightly. But this is the area they need to win. Evra with the

cross. Griezmann. It wouldn't come down and it's waisted away. Back

come France straightaway. Evra's cross. Debuchy is on to it. And

somehow, Honduras are just hanging on in there.

Griezmann hitting the bar there. Done everything right, just couldn't

get over it enough. Unhappy that the free kick has been

given. Palacios waving two fingers saying, that's twice he's done me.

Much younger French squad. Only Algeria and Australia have fewer

caps on average from the boys from the French squad.

It's just where the goals are going to come from without Riberi. They

need a goal score tore get here. Wonder how much they are going to

miss him. Costly. The 31-year-old veteran gets

a decent cross in looking for Bengtson. Griezmann's gone left.

Matuidi. Griezmann. Good cross. Benzema. That would have been goal

of the tournament so far and we have seen some good ones. Look at that

for a diagonal pass. Absolutely fantastic. Benzema just can't get

over it. Lovely to watch. It's been talked about here on Brazilian TV as

genuine dark horses for the tournament, France. Look how well

Griezmann gets up there for such a young man. Good power. Just can't

get over it. Played for Montpellier youth when he was stopped in a trial

for SSG by Real Sociedad and the Spanish side signed him. The

Manchester United fans saw him in action, home and away.

Well played. Playing some lovely stuff. Accurate short and long range

passes. So many options. Flooding the central areas. Debuchy.

Oh, he's a silly boy. He's off. And he'd have to go, the referee's seen

it, he reacted. Palacios is milking this. The

Honduran bench are up, they are surrounding the referee. But he's

already got his cards in his hands. He definitely reacted. There's a

touch of Beckham here against Argentina all those years ago. But a

young man with great skill, has reacted poorly. That looks just like

a yellow to me only. We'll wait to see what he does.

The referee with his first big decision of the World Cup to make.

Palacios wants treatment. Well, listen, he's very, very

professional. He's got that reaction, look. He goes in with a

tackle. He's had another nibble at him and the wrung man's had enough.

He's standing all over him and he kicks out at him. There's the kick

out. For me, nothing in that. I hope while he catches him with the

training leg, the referee sees that one, he's in a lot of trouble. I

certainly think that Palacios should be booked for one, two, maybe three,

but strictly sticking to the guidelines for referees, he'll have

to send off the French boy. There's a yellow card for Palacios. Looks

like it's going to be another yellow.

I sincerely hope that's what it is, rather than a red. It is only a

yellow. I think he's overreacted as well, by the way.

He's suddenly all right again now. Yes. Seen ate couple of times so far

in the tournament. In a moment you can hoods a top player, just shows

you. -- lose a top player. People have monitored his career, he

was Captain of the French World Cup side and it would have been a

disappointment for the supporters if he was sent off.

He's got to kerb that temperament. Yes, players like that emerging into

the game, we don't want the see them go out of the competition for

something so silly. The half hour mark now not far away.

They have just been starved of any real possession.

They'll be pleased that they are still in the game at this stage.

There's the coach, Louis Fernandez Suarez.

He was manager of Ecuador when they played England in Germany. Remember

the Beckham free kick. Just being really critical about central

defenders. Varane, that's not enough. You can't do that. Expect

better from a top professional. P- Now, Honduras are in possession.

Towards Espinoza. Header. Sakho under pressure there.

Can't switch off. defenders for France, you have so

much of the ball, you have to make sure you do your job correctly when

you are involved. Not switch off for a moment. Since they won the trophy

in 1998, France failed to score in all three World Cup opening games

they have played. Evra hazard again. -- has it again. They try to

exercise the ghosts of the Senegal defeat, the draw against Switzerland

and Uruguay, goalless in previous World Cup campaigns. Shepherded out.

They have travelled in numbers to the southern part of Brazil. Tickets

here costing between ?8 for OAPs and students, up to ?92. The minimum

monthly salary in Brazil is ?192. If you want a top seat here, you're

talking half a month's salary. This is one of the stadium finished very

late. The ?3 billion total stadium built body 's World Cup finals. 13

billion spent on the finals which could take care of the Brazil

welfare bill twice over. Something is not right, is it?

This stadium will be used, by the way, the two massive grounds in

Porto Alegre, will both draw big crowds but they will fill these

arenas and they will be used properly. That's good, because you

don't want all this money spent on stadium and then no one using it in

the future. There is a great atmosphere in here. And around the

city this morning, people are selling bags of peanuts and cold

drinks. It seems to have lost a little bit

of tempo, doesn't it? After the delay.

You can't let Espinoza get anywhere near the French penalty area. He's

got a fantastic goal against Israel the other week. The left-back is

really been pushed back. Well one by the ever industrious Matuidi.

Another foul. It seems every tackle they make is followed by a hit to

the back of your head. A very physical team. Great run by Debuchy.

A real opportunity there. I don't think he realised what a good

opportunity that was. Towards Bengtson.

Anticipation swelling around the ground when Majar gets it.

It might have been pulled back by Espinoza.

A very bold effort from Figueroa. We have seen that at home.

Sakho made his debut against England a few years ago.

This could be dangerous for France. Head down, you did not see it. The

chance has gone. He needed to lift his head there. Yes, it was a

diagonal ball in behind the full-backs. On the counterattack.

That's maybe where the French are a little vulnerable. And they have

been vulnerable in major finals. The 2008 World Cup, 2012, they just one

one of ten matches at that level. That's not good enough.

Point in this game for Honduras would be seen as a triumph at home.

Football team is the soul of the country, says Espinoza. France at

tacking on the opposite side to Espinoza. A soft shoes so full.

Nearly the four Bengtson. The quality of Griezmann, the way he

works it from one foot to the other, finds the past. Look at that. He

just can't pick out his man. Valbuena with the corner kick. The

second of the game. France have had them both. Away by Palacios. Solid

clearance. They are difficult to beat, Honduras. Very compact. And

physical. They've never beaten a European team

in the World Cup finals. Still looking for their first ever victory

in the finals. They are holding on here against France. Valbuena, a

mischievous Imp. Close. Very close to the defender,

but no foul. He looks down at the test. -- turf. He's gone down a bit

easy, maybe. This was an earlier one. Looking at the quality of his

awareness. It's shocking, to be fair. He's pushed him in the back.

Physically, he's like Zidane is down. He's a big man but can float

so delicately. He certainly the new player. He is a figurehead, though

they look to to give them their first goal. Certainly they will need

a goal to settle them down. That's the only thing missing from their

play. 24 goals for his club this season. He has hit 20 goals or

more, six in the last seven seasons and there are still questions about

him at this level. Sakho. Back to the Paris Saint-Germain

player. Away by Griezmann. Played in towards Bengtson. Bengtson joining

now. Eases it away. A lovely touch by such a big man,

Benzema. A lovely subtle touch, though, from the French centre

forward. Plenty of quality. You wonder if they lack a little bit of

pace. They certainly haven't got the pace of Thierry Henry out there

tonight. Sloppy again, Honduras. Palacios has put in a lot of work in

midfield. He hasn't seen a great deal of that ball at Stoke since

joining from Spurs. Since April, he's had a few injury concerns

again. Played 90 minutes only once this season, I think it was.

Evra is having a look. Valbuena is over there. So, too, is Espinoza.

Five minutes to go in the first half. Good close skills. Debuchy

pulled it back. That's a painful blow their four Figueroa, who has

gone down. It hit him on the ankle, I think. Meanwhile, France on the

attack. Benzema had different options. Pulled it back. This is

worrying. As a low cross came in, he turned his ankle, I think. Maybe his

knee. Yeah, I think it was already carrying it. The left knee has

already collapsed under him. How on earth he got out of there? Debuchy,

in that position, its great defending from him. It's certainly

the best thing he's done. He's a big man. 13 stone, Bernardez. This is

his last World Cup. He retires after this. The man they called

Nightmare. They had options there, Martin.

Yeah. He really should be picking somebody out there. Needed a bit

more composure. Honduras defending at the moment with tender. Treatment

for their centre-half, Bernardez. Corner kick from France. Benzema is

at the far post. The referee wants a word with the Real Madrid striker.

The ball darted in and there was a posh. Redcar declaration marked --

red card! Booked for the original argument

with Pogba. Wilson Palacios, two minutes before the half-time

whistle, is sent off. This is Cabaye's ball. It's a great pass. He

has just overdone it. One foul too many. He's going to take that down

and put it in the back of the net. You said he has not much football

this season for the Bismarck going to get much more in this one.

Palacios sent off. He has worked hard but has been careering around a

little bit too much. There's been so much dominance from France in

possession. The ball is under the arm of the goalkeeper. He looks

reluctant to get out of the play. Bad gamesmanship going on here, I'm

afraid to say. Izaguirre is in the box and the referee is telling him

to go away. And also Figueroa. Valladares there, national hero,

four years ago, faces this man, who scored six in his last six

internationals. Had to wait a long time to take this, though. This

upset his focus, his concentration. France, by now, should be ahead in

Porto Alegre in their World Cup opener. And they are. In the last

minute of the first half, they get their just rewards. And France lead

Honduras by 1-0. Yes, nothing more than they deserve. The referee left

that and age there. Benzema showed his quality and nerve. June 2012 to

November 2013 without a goal for him.

Distressed by his performance in 2012, Benzema, but he's delighted

his manager and the travelling fans today. His 22nd international goal

for France. No substitute for quality and he's got that in

abundance, Benzema. It's going to be even more difficult now for

Honduras. Three more minutes of stoppage time in this first half.

Espinoza. They haven't been able to get the talented player on the ball.

We know he can play, but he's defending the whole time. This 4-4-2

really isn't working. France are down to ten men, it's

almost going to be impossible for them.

Now need to wonder how much a part the cards will play. You don't want

unnecessary bookings. I wonder if we'll see a great free

kick here today in the birthplace of Robinho

Lloris takes a lot of risks for me, Jonathan. Maybe too many at times.

Matuidi slipping through the gap again.

France should go on to win this game comfortably.

The left hand side looks stronger. So late with that.

Matuidi there. Nobody getting in the box quick enough. They'll look at

that. I'll be surprised if we see another red card in this game.

The keeper clawed it away. Only just.

Half time. Great save from him.

Look at the width he gets on that. Good save.

Benzema wasn't to be denied from penalty spot after Pogba had been

pushed by Palacios, Palacios's place it cost him with the red card. At

half time, Gary, they go in 1-0 up. It's not been one of the

free-flowing end-to-end games in this World Cup we have seen so far,

but a different type of entertainn't. How satisfied are you

with the play France have played? It's never an easy task when you

play against a team like Honduras, they wait for you, they're

difficult, they are aggressive at times but France was knocking on the

door trying to use things at the beginning of the game. Griezmann

nearly scored. Overall, that's well deserved. I think they deserve to be

1-0 up. You have got to be careful because it's difficult to play

against a team that will play with ten men.

You would think when you are ahead with a team against ten men and you

have been dominating when they had 11 that France are pretty much

there? Yes. Tom negotiating is maybe not the word to express it because

they had difficulty getting through. They created chances but they are

not really under control. I think this is the first match that

we have seen such a defensive team like Honduras and that of course

influenced a lot of the game. Robbie? They have been over

physical. Macyous was absolutely stupid, ludicrous. Tram plunge all

over Pogba, to be fair. It was needless, stupid -- Palacios. Gets

in a great position and what is Palacios doing there, the first

challenge, first yellow card, 45th minute, stupid. More stupid the

first yellow card before. He could have done it if a better way. The

first one allowed him to get awhich with the second one, in a way.

Decent penalty from Benzema. We should look at that first yellow

card. You've all mentioned it. Away with it. It's been feisty from start

to finish? I was worried actually because obviously being a French

guy, I don't want to lose Pogba and I'm sure there have been worries

about that. Has he been lucky to stay on? If he connects with his

left leg, as we are going to see soon, maybe. It's a red card. He's

kicked that with his right foot. Watch his right foot now. There. I

think he should have just got a red card for laying on that stretcher

for five minutes. A Urnic point of all of this is Robbie is asking for

a red card. But it is. You know... I don't know, I lost count, but it's

just like, you're asking for a red, come on. It is a read, you kick out,

you can't kick out. David Beckham did it in Argentina, got sent off.

He got away with it so many times so I don't know.

I don't think so personally. To be honest, when you are getting

kicked and kicked... You can react, yes. Some people do. You remember

Boscov right, he said it's a red when the referee gives it so...

It is, it is, it is. I understand where you are coming from Robbie,

but obviously I'm French so it's not a red. The French some times have

not taken advantage of the space that there is on the field.

Absolutely. That was worrying me a little bit because you have to read

the game. A certain moment, Honduras were showing exactly what their game

plan was. If you see how many Honduras players are on the side

where the ball is, the French are instead of trying to get to the

other side with a long ball, you know, go into the middle where the

Honduras players are. Eight, nine, ten players waiting for them to do

exactly that. Of course, the French have qualities, so the individual

quality help them to come out sometimes. Here, look again,

focussed on the left side, on the right side of Honduras. Skills, of

course, of the individual players, but on the right side is where the

space is, the rightback completely free. Eight players there, but look

at the one touch in the back and boom get it to the other side of the

field and try to get across. Hopefully they'll read the situation

better. And switch play. The French hit the cross bar twice, Thierry,

went very close. Yes. I mean, some great deliveries from a lot of free

kicks. The first 15 minutes, they had three kicks in a similar

position. Superb save this? It is, it is. Matuidi always finds himself

in these types of situations because of his desire. Same thing there,

they play on the side. He can deliver an outstanding error.

If they carry on playing this way, being aware that it's not easy to

play against a team with ten men, you have to maximise what the team

is giving you and analyse what is in front of you and play a bit more,

they can win this game. We said how difficult it can be to

score a goal... I'd rather play with ten men than play with one guy that

isn't going to work because you think, my man is there so I'm going

for the cross and he's going to take care of it and he doesn't. If you go

into the team with ten men that you have already seen with 11, it gets

more space, surely? I played some games where I'm having a great game,

11 v 11 because they want to go forward, we have space and you are

enjoying the game, they go down to ten men, you don't touch the ball

any more, don't pass well and they have space and they score. The point

is, if you play against a Honduran team that aren't interested in

attacking anyway, that mind Seth doesn't change? Hopefully, but they

do extra more and they have shown some speed at the front. I mean, it

should be OK. Just don't relax. You are nervous because it's your team,

Thierry? I guess 2-0 will be better to see like if they don't score a

lingle goal I'll be more relaxed. The other live game tonight gives us

a glimpse of one of the greatest players of all-time.

Let's cross town where kick off is a couple of hours away. Rio is there

with John Tra... Sorry, Mark Chan. You have to go light colours so you

don't show the sweat too much! You footballers play it cool. This

is the first time in your life you have been in this stadium and a few

minutes ago, you said to me, you've got the chills. Yes, it's

unbelievable. The Argentinian fans are singing a couple of hours before

the game. Unbelievable, it reminds me of France 98 when I looked out at

the pitch before the game to see if the turf's right. Behind the goal

was full of Argentinian fans sinning, chanting. It intimidated

you. ? You wish your own fans will get behind you like that. On the bus

on the way here you said to your little boy on the phone, daddy's

going to see Messi. One of the best players in the world, if not the

best players in the world at the Maracana, you can smell the likes of

Pele has been here, all the great players. My little boy was like, why

can't I be there and all the kids around the world will be saying the

same thing, so we are lucky to be here. Let's touch on the positives.

Scored plenty of goals in qualifying, you think they need to

be as attacking tonight? Their manager, he said before they want to

go out and attack and put it to teams in qualifying, scoring a lot

of goals, ten I think he got, they have got to go for Argentina's

weakness. Dzeko can put the goal in the back of the net, he can do that.

The whole of the stadium is covered in American flags, we got here four

hours before kick off and it took a long time to get through the streets

because there are Argentina fans everywhere. It's absolutely rocking.

Certainly will be. The wider shot, you can see the lovely cream

trousers to two with the lovely white shirt. The other teams

tomorrow: want to miss coming very soon.

SUE BARKER: Here they come, so much pressure, so much expectation. If

the title all the players want to win. A lot of these players are

friends off the court but when they step out here, forget it. A hugely

exciting moment, this. SUE BARKER: It still gives you goose

bumps, Centre court, doesn't it? Wimbledon is just absolutely

incredible. Wimbledon, 2014. It's anyone's game.

England won't be in action again until Thursday. They arrived back in

Rio early this morning. Gabby Logan has the latest from the camp. The

England team arrived back here hotel in the early hours of the morning

after the four-hour flight from Manaus, believed to have escaped the

sticky temperatures of the Amazon. There were no injuries to report

after the two - one defeat to Italy apart from Gary Lewin who tripped on

a bottle of water. He has dislocated and fractured his ankle. He is

expected to fly home on the next few days but no one will come out yet

because England have two more doctors and physios here in Rio. The

next couple of days, the training starts tomorrow and Tuesday and the

no fly to what is now looking like a must win game against Uruguay on

Thursday. Hopefully, they will be able to restore some of the bands

which was in the squad last week. It's certainly slipped away today. A

few other players, their heads were down today, but Roy will tell them

to pick themselves back up and get on with the task in hand. Early on,

we asked you if you thought England would qualify for the last 16. Here

is your response. Overall, yes, 54%. No, 46%. It's pretty tight. I hope

you are right. Don't forget, to keep sending your pictures of where you

are watching the World Cup from. Looking forward to the second half,

we talked about the advantages when you play against ten men, but what

would you like to see from France and the second half?

They are going to be more in the middle. They will have to do play

obviously more on the wing and that's where the game is going to

be. That's the one thing you should do, switch play when you have a

one-man advantage. Yes, even more now than before. Find a second goal

as quickly as possible. The French players need to keep their heads

because the Honduran players will be more physical in the second half.

Just keep their heads, France. This is a game to get Honduras back into

the game... Exactly, it will get harder and harder, the frustration.

This is a pretty good group. The draw has been pretty kind, don't you

think? I don't mind it. I'm not going to complain! Yes, it's not

bad. Switzerland, the other winners in this group today. France should

sail through the screw, let's be fair. I don't think Switzerland

where that great. France, with the quality of the players they have

got, against ten men, I think they should sail through. If France get

through the group, they go to the final. You would like to think so.

It should be OK. Let's see. Back to Porto Alegre. Jonathan Martin.

COMMENTATOR: Honduras have made two substitute at half-time. It's a

shocker, really. Garcia has come on for Bengtson and will go to the

right-hand side of the midfield. Costly upfront. Bernardez, we saw

him pick up a knee injury towards the end of the first period. He has

been replaced by Chavez, who has just had a knee injury himself and

been out for five months. He's a left-back or or centre-back and he

has come on as a centre-back. Damage limitation for them now. France are

attacking all in blue. Immediately, there's been a stiff challenge by

Beckeles. He was sent off in the warm up game against England in

Miami. The court on the back of the Achilles. Free kick. He's patting

him on the back to say he didn't mean it, but there's been a lot of

those physical challenges. Got to move the ball quickly. Yes,

sometimes it's more difficult when you're playing against ten men than

11, but today, I feel France are so dominant, you can only think of more

goals in the second half. Garcia has come to the right of midfield. Majar

has gone to the left. Espinoza is in a more central position. Palacios

has vacated that, with his red card, of course. There is a chill in the

air. We are yet to reach just in we are yet to reach the Usk in Porto

Alegre in the South. There is a breeze. It is too wretched weather

-- dusk. They did so well in qualifying to finish behind the USA.

Goal acclamation Mark it stayed out. That goal-line technology has ruled

it in. It has gone in. The assistant referee merely went back up the

touchline. The referee got a signal. France lead by 2-0. A thumping

finish. It was whipped across the box there. Such pace on it. Benzema

hits the post. It comes back to the keeper. We are waiting for the

technology. We have two trust the technology that that has gone over.

To the naked eye, it doesn't look like it from that angle.

CROWD GROANS Look at this again. We have seen so

many spurious goalline technology replays. It is no goal. The fans

have heard it. But it's a goal there. Goodness me, they are

changing their minds now! Does goalline technology work or not?

He's gone to the extra official to find out for sure. It's definitely

gone over the line. Which replay are we supposed to believe? This was

supposed to be a flawless system. Didier Deschamps is perplexed. It's

not the system which is used in the Premier League. France will expect a

second goal. The referee, it is in doubt, cannot give it, if in doubt.

It says the ball was over the line on the second instance on the

camera. The first worm wasn't but the second one was, and the ball was

still in place so, effectively, it's a goal. There is the ball which was

whipped in. Benzema gets on the end of it and hit the post. It comes

back and it's not over the line. Now it is. They are seeing the replays

in the stadium I can tell you. That was the moment when he takes it

over. CROWD BOOS

You may have thought there was controversy in the Brazil game but

this is the biggest moment of controversy so far. France lead by

2-0. I think that was the right outcome whatever happened, but to

say there was a goal and then no goal, is going to cause problems in

the stadiums. The Germans have moaned for generations that the 1956

goal was not over the line. Goalline technology provided by a German

-based manufacturer. It's being used here. It was used in the

Confederations Cup last summer. The goal stands. France lead by 2-0.

Officially, it came after 48 minutes. Free kick for France on the

edge of the box. Figueroa has jumped into his man. Pogba has got here.

Rather cynical that, Martin. Well, Figueroa knows he can't get anywhere

near that goal. The whole goalline technology debate will flare up

again because... It was not good enough, was it? One moment we were

seeing the goal given by the assistant referee and then we saw it

was not over the line, in the replay, and then, we saw it was over

the line with the second replay. We got there in the end! Imagine if

this was Argentina against Brazil in the World Cup final. Just as well is

happening in a group game and we can make it better for the future. We

tried to get here in the ground why the was no national anthems. The

official said it was a breakdown in a tannoy system.

So, things are settling down. Free kick will be taken by one of the

substitutes, Chavez. So difficult for Honduras with ten

men. We've not seen a lot of Griezmann

but, whatever he has done has been quality. Yeah, I like him. He's only

a young player but he's got a good future. A frontal challenge. Garcia.

That's the first thing he's done. It's the second thing. He smashed

into somebody is barely on and now it's a booking. He's quite pleased

with himself. That early on. I heard Robbie Savage backing up

what you thought about another red card happening. I'm sure there will

be. Benzema immediately sees it's a goal. He can see. He was well on the

spot. Now on a hat-trick. Figueroa. Looking for Griezmann in the box.

Will he get a hat-trick all will go down as an own goal officially? --

or will it go down as an own goal officially? It has officially been

given as an own goal. The keeper has taken it over the line. Another

French player lying on the floor. I wonder how long it is before Didier

Deschamps decides to take one or two of these off with bigger games

coming up? He's on a yellow card and so, too,

is Cabaye. A bruising encounter. Lovely football that. He's in the

box. Benzema! Good save. He has done well, Valladares. A really good

stop. Griezmann again, his intelligence, quality. He drills

that across the box. There's a few clubs chasing him.

Valladares, outstanding in the goal for Honduras, keeping France at bay,

but they are dominating possession. 21, Pogba. Two titles in Italian

football. Benzema has won so much. Really good approach football by

France. No finish, but it was lovely to watch. Yeah, lovely movement off

the ball. Just behind in, couldn't get it. This was the cross from

Griezmann. Great technique on that and in the end, great save from the

keeper. Sadly, Pogba goes off. Sissoko, another connection to the

Premier League with Newcastle. pullin away to the far post.

Honduras backs to the wall. Honduras are going to make a final

substitution. Good defending from Figueroa.

He's had to do his fair share of defending.

Najar never really been able to get on the ball and is going to go off.

Claros is on as a midfielder. Griezmann offside. What's happened

there? This is craziness. He lifted a foot so high there. The referee

telling him to calm down. I think he was the player that kick the ball at

one of the England players when he was on the ground in Miami. Yes,

Sturridge. I wonder if we'll see a replay on

that one. Let me try and explain, some of the incidents haven't been

replayed as you are used to seeing them back home.

This is the thing about damage limitation. I think the French want

this game over really. It's been expensive with the bookings. Don't

want any injuries. All the supporters you see in blue

will be for France. We've got Australians here, I can tell you,

supporting... They were split in our hotel this morn, Honduras and

France. Free kick. Debuchy. I think Sagna is a better player with more

quality. He's more of a leader. Sissoko made the run. Benzema.

Matuidi. Evra. Gets the cross in. Slanted loosely

through the box initially by Chavez. Handball against Costly.

His days as an international footballer perhaps are coming to the

end now. Evra. Virtually playing like a

winger throughout the whole of this match, as has Debuchy on the other

side. They have a nice way that they play lots of options. Debuchy. Foul.

Referee's played on. Honduras have possession.

Had to keep the ball moving. Make that extra player work for you.

Move it quickly. The French movement started with

Cabaye in his position. Out towards Debuchy. Chavez obviously has a lot

of confidence in him, rightly so. He's got great vision, he enjoys

having the ball. The two central defenders split nicely. Griezmann

comes inside. It's a nice system. Benzema ahead of all of that will

finish things off for you. The 'll be reaction no doubt and much debate

over the second goal -- there'll be. There'll be talk about what there

was an injustice done. Sissoko looking for Griezmann.

Centre half getting the pressure on. Griezmann.

Good movement. Here is Benzema. Evra. Good move. Lovely move. It's

3-0. Side netting. It was in. Yes, the angle we've got here... It was

in, Martin. Glorious move. Everything that we talked about came

into action here. Move it quickly, two touch. Just puts it past the

post. Should be putting that away.

Should Thought he had. We were in a restaurant watching the England game

last night. When the shot went in from Sterling I jumped up and I was

told I had to pack that in while commentating. And I just have done

it again. The Brazilians weren't as keen to

see the English match as we were, were they? We were supporting loud

and proud, I can tell you. Another substitution. Avuba is going

to come on. For Cabaye who picked up a booking earlier on. He's the

play-maker, everything's gone through him. He'll be satisfied with

his night's work. His manager is saying well done. It's about

recovery now. I wonder if he's had a bit of a

knock there. They were certainly talking about something.

Griezmann. Chavez is there.

Figueroa. 25 minutes to two. -- to go.

Espinoza. Fouled.

Playing the right way against ten men. Yes, moving it quickly.

Figueroa gets across well here actually. Sissoko trying to pick

someone out. On the edge of the six yard area.

Evra. Griezmann. Could hear the Hondurans calling for the free kick

to the referee. He whips everything in though on the

crosses. He's got something on his groin there, a bit of ice.

That will be a concern for him. Here come France again. Sissoko.

Looks for Benzema. Figueroa. Looks for Espinoza. Garcia. Espinoza.

Garcia's in here for Honduras. Had to go wide and in the end, the shot

lacked enough power to beat Lloris. And France counter. Figueroa got it

away behind Chavez. So physical. Chance at the other end

here. Sakho just switches off for a moment. You could be punished

against better teams. Valbuena so talented.

Matuidi's cross. That might have been a penalty,

Martin, we'll have to see it again. I think both players are committed

to that, it's an honest challenge. He lunges at it. See it coming in

there. No, good honest challenge. Evra does well to get out of the way

of it. If anything, a free kick the other way. Determined defending.

He's been cursed when it comes to Cup Finals. 35 World Cup qualifiers.

He's played four World Cup finals games.

The controversy of the second goal, whether or not it was a penalty

France have been the better side. Got to be professional now and see

it through. Get some confidence going with the goals. Good

performances all round. Only Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina have

managed 00 goals. When you look at the near peck fection of the

performance against Brazil and Spain, waiting for Argentina to come

and Italy against England, Germany of course, you get to see them in

their stride soon, so it's going to be difficult for France to two all

the way. It's going to be difficult but they are setting their stall out

and demonstrating that Fennell. Football is on its way back. They

tend to see it through these tournaments.

-- demonstrating that the French football is on its way back.

This is a worry because they don't want to lose this player. He's been

a quality player through this match. Look at this. For me, it's cynical,

he just takes him out. He's tired, he's had enough. He wants to take a

nibble and he's taken a chunk out of him there, Valbuena. I don't think

he pulled out a card. He must have run out of cards. That's amazing,

really. Because have damaged Valbuena seriously. One of the

tournament's brightest players. Pulls it back. Debuchy.

Benzema. Absolutely blasted into the net. Beautiful finish, Benzema. I

love seeing him go to the top of the net like that. Beautiful, clean

strike. A man on top of his game. This was some initial drive, as

well. Debuchy, he just picked his spot.

This was some initial drive, as well. Debuchy, he just picked His

initial touch, creates the angle, and he hammers it away. Just a

concern that Evra is still down. He will want to see the second goal

again now, Benzema. Evra now. I'm pretty sure the shot hit him while

he was on the ground but he seemed to drift away from the challenge and

go down before the Debuchy effort came in. They won't want to lose

Evra. It was his ankle. The air, he has gone over on his ankle. I think

they will be happy to finish it with ten men. There's no need to put him

back out there. We will watch that one with interest. Confirmation of

Benzema's two and the own goal. They barely had a sniff of a chance,

Honduras. Evra is back on his feet, thankfully.

I think the referee thinks he's not coming back. Still waiting to come

on the pitch. Espinoza was found a little bit laid there. Garrido. The

youngster. Not even creating a sniff of a

chance. This is the goal we are looking at there. Look at that,

right into the roof of the net. A glorious finish.

He's having some 12 months, for France, Benzema.

A depressing goal drought against Australia in October and he is

continued banging them in ever since when he's been playing. Valbuena has

been excellent throughout. Yes, creates so much. The manager

deserves a great deal of credit, believing in Benzema, as he does.

Everything is geared towards him. The cross deflected away. Gives

France a corner. Their seventh corner of the day. The Hondurans

Billy good coach looks on. He and his team has really been up against

it today. -- believe good coach. -- beleaguered coach. The sending-off

of Palacios certainly did not help. You don't want to go down to ten men

against a very, very rampant French team. A replica of the French team

from 2010, by the way, which destroyed a marketing exercise by

one of their sponsors, an exorcism of the Demons of South Africa. A bit

of fun. Is there anything left for Honduras

in this game? Costly, the lone frontrunner. Here is Giroud about to

come on. It is Valbuena coming off. He's had a terrific game. He

certainly has. Giroud thought it was going to play

tonight. Benzema, too. You can see the delight on his face there. He

has played very well tonight. Giroud has gone up top. Benzema has gone

into the deeper position, where he played against Jamaica. He played

very well against Jamaica, Garrido, -- Giroud, with Benzema. One back by

Sissoko. Benzema. It is dusk in Brazil and in Porto

Alegre. The night can't come together for Honduras. They are

still trying to play some decent possession football. They are

starting to try to play now, Honduras. It's a little bit late for

that. Sakho does not need to do that. He

needs to let it run with more awareness, and roll it back to his

keeper. Huge discrepancy in the playing

budgets of the two football associations. France should be

beating Honduras. In the end, they have beaten them comfortably enough.

A throw to France. Their first opening game victory in the World

Cup finals since they beat South Africa 1-0 in 1998. Characters there

from Asterix the Gaul. I read those cartoons when I was young. In fact,

I'm still reading them. Patrice Evra, still hungry, 33 years

of age. Really gets a shove there. Look at him. He's a big man, no firm

-- Garcia. We were talking to him about the

Holland and Spain game he was at that day. Holland were excellent but

Spain, this system didn't really suit against the free-flowing Dutch

football. Talked about playing three at the back. Is that the way forward

for Holland or is it just because it was against the Spanish? We will

have to see if Holland stick with that.

Figueroa, 31. He might have another World Cup inside him. They look for

Beckeles. Did so well in qualifying. To win in

Mexico, it's some feat, that. A sobering opening for Honduras

today. I can't remember Griezmann wasting a

ball. No, he's been excellent. He's not had many caps for his country

but he certainly taken advantage of this opportunity is tonight. He's

only had cameo roles really for France's opening four International

's. They got a free kick year now. Another big challenge here. Garrido.

Look at that. Dear oh dear. That is unbelievable. It's like the referee

has turned a blind eye since the sending-off. He's picking his leg up

at the moment. There seem to be a brandished,

surely. Garrido? I know Honduras is a proud nation but France have been

so much better in this game. It's being played at walking pace,

at the moment. Benzema has looked sharp throughout.

Garcia just manages to get in the way there. Otherwise it would have

been another one. Just preparing to shoot. Garcia gets back in front.

They've answered a few questions tonight. A lean spell in front of

goal late on in front of goal for Madrid. A winning start here today.

One of the Hondurans is down. The referee has to stop it.

Chavez is down, I think. Giroud comes in. Two years in the English

Premiership, nice and physical, have some of that.

He did use his elbows, though. He's got to protect himself but for me,

he does not do that deliberately. You can't be sure who you are going

to catch, of course. Now, one of the Hondurans goes down

in the box. The referee was totally unimpressed by the flop from Costly.

Matuidi covers so much ground in a game. Mavuba has a sound season as

minutes to go. -- five minutes to go. Mavuba has been so steady for

Lille this season. Been with them since 2011. His third campaign.

Sissoko, this season, could've been a bit better. For Liverpool.

Koscielny for Arsenal on the bench. Free kick for the challenge on

Giroud. Griezmann with the free kick.

Benzema in there. The referee blown before the free kick was taken

because he wants a word with Giroud and Figueroa.

No-one's standing on Giroud at the moment. Benzema. Headed away by

Figueroa. Sakho.

Oh, lovely. Benzema back in the middle.

It's a delight to see that kind of football. His vision and technique.

A couple minutes more plus stoppage time. Sakho.

France leading 3-0. Benzema whose shot was pushed into his own net.

Mavuba. The French have the confidence to just whizz the ball

around. Confidence is really high now in the

group. They have got more and more

confident. Their nation fell in love with the World Cup after a gradual

start. Evra. Cabaye is smiling. Seemed to pick up

maybe a recurrence of an injury. Giroud away.

Lloris has had virtually nothing to do. A couple of saves. It's been so

easy for France. After the sending off, they were dominating. It's just

been a piece of cake for them really.

Evra. Sissoko to Benzema. Three minutes stoppage time. Mavuba.

Figueroa got there first. He's done a shift, hasn't he, Figueroa? Yes.

Gave it everything for his team. We thought they would sacrifice a

forward at half time, but Benzema is a young man. They left Costly out.

Yes, I suppose either of them. They are similar types. They have got

other games in mind, maybe. They went down to ten men, but the alarm

bells were ringing sooner in the Honduras team. Here they come again.

Five against three. It's Evra. Over the bar by Matuidi.

Nodding in acceptance that perhaps there were better options. Evra

again down the left. A long way off. I would like to see better quality

from his finishing there. Honduras have been the authors of

their own misfortune. Gary Lineker referred to Platini,

saying he was a manager born with the attitude nana polian had. He

said, I wonder if he was dropped in a church font when he was born.

Certainly turned France around -- Napoleon. He knows what makes

players tick, says the right things at the rite times and you can't

question him tonight. A lot of people would have been thinking that

Giroud would have started. He didn't two with him. Griezmann's not played

much football, but you can see the way the French are going to go now,

total football once more. 163 games as Marseille manager, he

only used 44 players. He had success with Marseille, but he's settled

now. The referee puts Honduras out of their misery. France have won by

3-0. Two for Benzema, who saw his shot bounce off the post and chucked

in. There was a bit of confusion on the goal-line technology. France

have won the points. Palacios sent off. France have won 3-0.

A comfortable victory for France. Ten games now in the 2014 World Cup

and we have not had a single draw. That's not happened since the 1950

World Cup which was also in Brazil, since the group stages were brought

in. The 1930s World Cup didn't see any draws.

France's win will go down in World Cup history as the first to see a

goal decided by goal-line technology. They top the group ahead

of Switzerland. Well, Thierry... I always like to

say it looked like an easy game, made it easy and deserved it. An

overall good game, great second football when they relaxed? I think

it was a total different game, everyone wanted to two on the ball,

skills, changing side, they could have scored more goals. Is it fair

to say they dominated the second half? Definitely, after the second

goal especially. They started to loosen up a little bit, used their

qualities, passing skills, possession off the ball was there.

But I was worried about the physical aspect. It became very hard But

fortunately enough, everybody stayed well until the end. Three points and

plenty of bruises I would imagine? Yes, a very physical approach from

hon due wrasse, but Benzema looked good and Thierry said before the

game he got a goal, Matuidi played well. A very good performance for

France. We have had our first goal given by goal-line technology and a

little bit of wind-up at first for the Honduras fans. It works. When it

hits the post, they have to, because the ball's on the line, they have to

say there, no goal. The crowd can boo, but that shows it works

perfectly in the first instance. We can see it hasn't crossed the line,

so the question is, they have to show that. Then on the second

instance, the ball's over the line so it's a goal so it works perfectly

well, no confusion about it. But the question is, do they have to show

the first one Thierry? No, they don't, but like you said, rules are

rules, we don't make them, but that ball is clearly over the line, by

the way. Do you think so? ! I'm not totally confinesth Vinced that looks

over the line. But we have to trust the technology. Or did they just

make it up? The whole of the ball Thierry? Yeah. OK.

For sure. It's clear. It's clear when they draw that ball behind the

line, somebody quickly draws a ball. I did it.

How long have we been asking for this? I mean, this changes the game

and I think that everybody has seen a much better game afterwards. In

all seriousness, without the goal-line technology, that would

have been incredibly difficult? Yes, it was a goal. If it The only thing

is, we talk about Benzema and the goal, we haven't talked about that.

You have the opportunity now. The goal by Cabaye is outstanding but

then it's very difficult. We see this one. That's a guy just full of

confidence. Everything is against him. Very similar to a strike I saw

from Seedorf a few days ago, in a charity game.

It's actually a great finish. The only thing is, he didn't close his

eyes there. That's the one actually, first of all Cabaye, I mean... This

is the penalty. Yes. OK. Great composure. What's always

difficult, we see again Palacios didn't have to do that. Benzema,

great composure and what's difficult about that, it's also he's had to

wait for a long time before he takes the penalty. That's not easy, I'm

telling you, I've been there. Robbie, Palacios? Honduras on the

whole were shocking. It's OK being physical but they were going oaf the

top at time and some of the French players will hurt. You are a perfect

man to ask about physicality. Well, some of the tackles are ruthless,

cynical, they done it against England and Brazil. Absolutely, at

times, shocking. Palacios, you know, he deserved to

go, no question about that. They're lucky.

Ooh... That there is ridiculous. I remember 1962, Santiago, I wouldn't

say it's on that level, but at times they were shocking challenges.

Credit to the French and their composure they showed.

It does help to keep your composure when you're one or 2-0 up. I imagine

at half time they were being told to just... They did well. It's not an

easy task. Next up is Argentina v Bosnia, on BBC One at 10. 10.30.

That's the view from high over Rio. Spectacular it is too.

Here is our first glimpse of one Lionel Messi arriving at the

stadium. Will this be his time? COMMENTATOR: Listen to the roar that

creates this young man. I think were all looking forward to

seeing Lionel Messi later on. You want to make a point, the fact that

the goal line technology, we missed one of the great passes of the

tournament so far. Yes, great finish, obviously. Didn't score.

Although, as a striker, that should be a goal because look at that

technique. I mean, that is Benzema at his best. He does that all his

time. People don't talk about it. He's a great, great striker. Cabaye

is also amazing. There's nothing extra, the celebration afterwards.

It's all finished. Many other great players are scoring goals the

tournament. Yes, let's see if Lionel Messi can get any. Looking forward

to seeing Lionel Messi? Yes, yes, yes, we were talking about it

before. I was privileged to see him in training. I'm not even talking

about the games. In training, it's frightening. He's a wonderful

footballer falls of gentlemen, it's been a pleasure, as always. Thank

you very much indeed. France are up and running. Next, if Lionel Messi

and Cove. We will see you in about 25 minutes. Don't go anywhere. We

will be here on BBC1. From all of us here, bye bye for now.

We are about to find out whether they can cook.

You're going to love it. Smashed it. Yum-yum-yum.

They are nervous. Ken's just frying some lettuce.

What are you cooking for us today, Frankie?