France marked their qualification for Euro 2020 with a 2-1 victory as Olivier Giroud’s penalty ended Moldova’s resistance at Stade de France.
Turkey’s draw with Iceland earlier on Thursday had lifted any pressure off France, guaranteeing their place at next year’s tournament, but Didier Deschamps’ side put in a rather underwhelming display in Paris.
With no requirement to win, France made a sloppy start – calamitous Clement Lenglet defending handing Vadim Rata a chance to put Moldova ahead.
Alexei Koselev’s error gifted Raphael Varane an equaliser, though, and France moved top of Group H when Giroud sent Moldova’s goalkeeper the wrong way after Lucas Digne had been scythed down inside the area.
