Jérémy Menez stole the headlines for France (©AFP)Magic Menez sets France flying
Friday, 4 February 2005
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PrintBy Andrew Haslam at Ödemis stadium
Jérémy Menez scored a first-half hat-trick as reigning European Under-17 champions France overwhelmed their Africa counterparts Cameroon in the opening round of the 2005 UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup, running out 7-0 winners in Odemis.
Resounding victory
France led by five goals at half-time and, although Cameroon improved considerably after the interval, putting their opponents under more pressure as the match wore on, it was not enough to prevent the European side recording a resounding victory.
Attacking lineup
France coach Philippe Bergeroo fielded his usual 4-3-3 formation with Menez joined up front by Serge Gakpe and Karim Benzema, Menez also taking the captain's armband from the injured Steven Thicot. Cameroon, meanwhile, had only eleven players available due to the administrative problems that delayed their flight to Turkey, and paired Irenee Mbele and Christian Heumi in attack.
France take control
France began the brighter in front of a sizeable crowd, and Benzema might have scored twice inside the opening ten minutes but on each occasion goalkeeper Blasius Otiah came to Cameroon's rescue. Benzema was not to be denied, however, and gave his team a 20th-minute advantage, bursting clear on the right of the penalty area and driving a low shot beyond Otiah. Moments later it was two, Georges Mandjeck losing possession and allowing Menez to race clear and gently lift the ball over Otiah.
Quick strikes
The goals put France in complete command, and it was no surprise when Bergeroo's charges increased their lead with two strikes in a minute just past the half-hour. First, Otiah was quickly off his line to block Franck Songo'o's shot, but the ball fell perfectly for Menez to steer into the unguarded net. A minute later, Benzema broke down the left and rounded Otiah before unselfishly squaring for Songo'o to tap in.
Menez treble
Three minutes before half-time it was 5-0, Menez meeting a right-wing cross with a powerful header and, although his initial effort struck the crossbar, the FC Sochaux-Montbéliard striker was on hand to head in the rebound to complete his hat-trick. The pattern of play continued in similar vein after the interval, Benzema registering a sixth four minutes into the second half from Benjamin Laurant's defence-splitting pass.
Second-half chances
Although Cameroon caused the occasional nervous moment in the European champions' defence, with captain Guy Toindouba an imposing figure in midfield, France continued to create the more genuine goalscoring chances. Menez headed over following a sweeping move and saw another shot saved by Otiah after France had once again unlocked the Cameroon back line.
Substitute strikes
Mevlüt Erding was another to be denied by Otiah, the Africans' most impressive performer, but the substitute then played a key role in France's seventh, breaking down the left and crossing low for fellow replacement Elliot Grandin to sidefoot in the final goal with 14 minutes remaining. France will now go into Sunday's match with Sierra Leone in good heart, while Cameroon will hope for better against Spain the same day.
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