2018 World Cup Qualifier
Result: France 2-1 Belarus
Date: 10 October 2017
Venue: Stade de France
First-half goals by Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud ensured France ran away 2-1 winners over Belarus to book a place at the 2018 World Cup.
Raphael Varane managed to get on the end of a well-worked corner but his header was denied by goalkeeper Sergey Chernik.
A minute later, a cross from the right flank was met by a towering header from Olivier Giroud that rattled the crossbar.
The French pressure finally paid off as Griezmann was put through on goal and he confidently put it through the Chernik's legs to give Le Bleus a 1-0 lead after 27 minutes.
Griezmann then turned provider as he put Giroud through on goal and the forward made no mistake with his finish to double his side’s lead.
After enduring pressure from the French, Belarus were not taking defeat lying down as Anton Saroka pulled a goal back for his nation just on the stroke of halftime.
After a lackluster start to the second half, Belarus almost equalised through Saroka, who had the goal at his mercy but missed from close range.
France had an appeal for a penalty rejected by the referee after Kylian Mbappe went down from Chernik's challenge only to be ignored by the official.
Nevertheless, France managed to hold on for a 2-1 victory as Didier Deschamps’ men booked their spot in Russia 2018.