Ribéry-inspired France hit Australia for six

Franck Ribéry gave a sparkling performance and Karim Benzema ended his 15-month international goal drought as France overwhelmed Australia 6-0.

Les Bleus were 4-0 up inside half an hour in the Parc des Princes friendly after a Ribéry penalty, two Olivier Giroud goals and a Yohan Cabaye effort. They could not maintain that intensity, but second-half strikes from Mathieu Debuchy and substitute Benzema sealed a victory that leaves them in high spirits ahead of their final FIFA World Cup qualifier against Finland on Tuesday.

Didier Deschamps's side need to win in Paris and hope Group I leaders Spain slip up against Georgia; they will be confident of at least the first part of that equation after a dominant display. Ribéry sparked the triumph from the spot on eight minutes and played a role in all six goals. It was a minor contribution eight minutes later as Giroud fired a superb curling shot over goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak.

Ribéry and Samir Nasri combined to tee up Giroud soon after, Cabaye being the beneficiary of the same double act on 29 minutes. Debuchy added another after the restart and Benzema completed the scoring from close range in the 50th minute.