Faubert secures late France win

Bosnia-Herzegovina 1–2 France

Julien Faubert marked his debut with a last-gasp goal as an experimental France side came from behind to claim victory in Sarajevo.

Barbarez volley
A second-half substitute, Faubert struck in injury time, controlling Thierry Henry's cross and firing past Kenan Hasagić. The shot was helped by two deflections, and there was an element of good fortune to much of the visitors' performance after they had been left standing in the opening stages. Spurred on by a partisan crowd, Blaž Slišković's team came out marauding and took a deserved lead when Sergej Barbarez volleyed in Zvjezdan Misimović's cross on 16 minutes.

Mavuba instrumental
They could not sustain the pressure, however, and France soon emerged from their FIFA World Cup hangover. Rio Antonio Mavuba provided much of their thrust and four minutes before half-time Les Bleus were level when William Gallas fired in. It looked like earning a draw in France's last outing before their UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign begins against Georgia on 2 September, but Faubert ensured they go into that game on the back of a win. Bosnia-Herzegovina face Malta in their first qualifier.