Late joy for French, misery for Dutch.

Late joy for French, misery for Dutch.



Magpies pair Hatem Ben Arfa (pictured) and Yohan Cabaye were both in the starting XI as France defeated Iceland 3-2 in Valenciennes on Sunday evening.

Ben Arfa, in particular, was a continual threat and both he and Cabaye went close in a first half when the visitors scored on the break to take a 2-0 half-time lead.

Ben Arfa then combined in the 52nd minute with Karim Benzema, to set up Mathieu Debuchy. And the Lille right back who is allegedly interesting Newcastle promptly pulled one back for Les Bleus.

The United pair were both substituted in the 59th minute and the much-changed French side went on to score late goals through Franck Ribery and Adil Rami to win 3-2.

Among the unused substitutes for the home side was Montpellier centre half Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, who is also known to be interesting the Magpies. Les Bleus return to action against Serbia in Reims on Thursday night, by which time the final squad selection will be known.

Saturday saw the Netherlands play the first of three warm-up matches on home soil in the next week, but opponents Bulgaria ran out surprise 2-1 winners at the Amsterdam ArenA.

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk opted to start with United's Tim Krul between the posts, the 24 year-old winning his third senior cap. The home side led 1-0 at the break but Krul was then beaten by a 50th minute spot kick and could do nothing to prevent an extra time winner.

Before kick-off, the United 'keeper was confirmed as one of three custodians in the Netherlands squad for Euro 2012 and with AS Roma's Maarten Stekelenburg struggling for fitness, Krul has been chosen to start against Bulgaria ahead of Swansea City's Michel Vorm.

Next up for the Dutch is a friendly against Slovakia in Rotterdam on Wednesday evening.

PS: Ahead of a World Cup Qualifying double header in early June, Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in a friendly match staged in Marrakesh on Friday. Newcastle's Papiss Cisse was in the Senegal starting line-up and captained the side but there was no sign of club colleague Demba Ba.

The Ivory Coast meanwhile warmed up for their own forthcoming World Cup games with a 2-1 victory over Mali in Paris at the weekend. Cheick Tiote didn't feature.

 

Debuchy scored just so you guys know!

Fullbacks scoring? Good sign.

 

He's as good as our's.

 

I saw him in a Jesmond hotel talking to Barnetta (who, joking aside is now on a free BTW... an Ashley type signing?) the other day...

 

Are you Cwarr by any chance?

 

Jesmond Hotel? Say no more, it's a done deal.

 

Very sharp getting that linkup!

 

Me and Cwarr, sharp as spoons