WOW!Here's the match summary:
Enjoy and Allez Les Bleus!
Wed 26 April
Slovenia stunned by French fightback
Friendly international 26/04/2000
France 3
Trezeguet 62, 90, Blanc 78
Slovenia 2
Novak 3, Udovic 9
Stade de France, Paris (St-Denis) REPORT
World Cup holders France produced an incredible comeback from conceding two goals in the first eight minutes to force a 3-2 win against fellow EURO 2000 participants Slovenia in a topsy-turvey friendly encounter at the Stade de France on Wednesday. The dangerous Slovenians looked to be heading for a shock win thanks to their quickfire start - Zelkjo Milinovic and Saso Udovic finding the net - but David Trézéguet's "brace" – the second in second-half injury time - and Laurent Blanc struck after the interval to give the Frenchmen an improbable success. .
France caught cold
Slovenia - eagerly looking forward to their trip to Belgium and the Netherlands in the summer - shocked the crowd by catching the home side totally cold after three minutes. Miran Pavlin swung in a cross, Saso Udovic sidefooted against the post, and Milinovic made no mistake from the rebound.
Disastrous French start made worse
Five minutes later, the jeers were ringing around the stadium when Slovenia increased their lead. Milinovic and Udovic were the inspiration again, Milinovic swinging over a cross from the right, and Udovic climbing to plant a firm header past French 'keeper Fabien Barthez.
French pressure in vain
For a few minutes, France looked totally at sea as they tried to come to terms with their catastrophic start, but the world champions gradually began to put together a series of threatening moves to test the buoyant Slovenians. The closest the home side came in the first half-hour saw Didier Deschamps rap a fierce drive inches past the upright.
Zidane hits the woodwork
France missed a gilt-edged chance to reduce the arrears five minutes before the break. Zinedine Zidane, who was working hard to repair the early damage caused by Slovenia's double strike, saw a curling free-kick hit the post. Patrick Viera seemed certain to bury the rebound, but fired wildly over the bar. The first half ended with French coach Roger Lemerre accompanying his team off the field to a chorus of cat-calls.
Slovenians defend capably
Inevitably, France came out for the second half with Lemerre's anger no doubt ringing in their ears, but their attack still seemed to lack an edge despite the introduction of David Tezeguet for the disappointing Christophe Dugarry. Nevertheless, visiting 'keeper Mladen Dabanovic showed his skills with a superb save from a fiercely-struck free-kick from Franck Leboeuf. Otherwise, Slovenia's capable defence was holding sway.
Trézéguet gives France hope
Just when France's efforts seemed to be petering out, they gave themselves a lifeline with a goal in 62 minutes. Dabanovic spilled a Zidane free-kick, and Trézéguet was on the spot to volley home from close range. Trezeguet almost equalised minutes later, but this time Dabanovic was alert, and saved his fierce drive.
Blanc on target
The Slovenians began wilting under ceaseless French pressure, and it came as no surprise, after a series of menacing raids, when the Frenchmen pulled themselves level 13 minutes from time. Substitute Emanuel Petit swung over a left-wing corner, and defender Blanc rose to plant a superb header in off the post.
Somehow - a French winner
It was one-way traffic in the dying stages, and Zidane nearly gave France the lead with three minutes remaining, only to see another cunningly flighted free kick shave the woodwork. But there was no stopping France from going on to claim the match, and - in the fourth minute of injury time - Zidane and Trezeguet combined in a crowded penalty area for Trézéguet to fire joyfully home. Class had told in the end - and Lemerre's blushes were spared.
