Worldcup 1998 : Friendly Games - France 3 / Norway 3 , February 25, 1998.

FRANCE 3 / NORWAY 3, February 25, 1998.

Who said it was friendly?
France, Norway tie after six-goal thriller

MARSEILLE, , February 25, 98 (AP)

France was held to a 3-3 tie by Norway on Wednesday, despite dominating its last home game before hosting this summer's soccer World Cup.

France made crucial defensive errors during the friendly match, and only rescued a draw after a diving header from Marcel Desailly in the last seconds of the match.

Norway, which will also play in France this summer, took the lead in the 12th minute when French defender Laurent Blanc fouled Petter Rudi and Frank Strandli converted the ensuing spot kick.

Blanc redeemed himself 11 minutes later, scoring on a diving header to equalize the score.

France's star playmaker Zinedine Zidane then began to control the match, and gave the hosts a 2-1 lead with an outstanding individual goal in the 28th minute -- his eighth for France.

Zidane, who plays for Italian champions Juventus, controlled a high 40-yard pass from Youri Djorkaeff with the outside of his right foot, slipped past defender Henning Berg on the edge of the penalty area and guided the ball into the net.

France's confidence visibly grew in front of a 50,000 Marseille crowd, and Robert Pires nearly made it 3-1 with a 20-yard (20-meter) volley that was just wide of the post.

Norway, camped in its own half for most of the second period, grabbed two breakaway goals.

First, Tore Andre Flo got between two French defenders to head in a goal in the 67th minute.

Then, with two minutes left, substitute Verard Heggem made it 3-2 after being left unguarded just 12 yards (11 meters) from the goal.

"We created a lot of chances but tired in the second half," said French coach Aime Jacquet.

France
Fabien Barthez; Marcel Desailly, Laurent Blanc, Lilian Thuram, Didier Deschamps, Alain Boghossian, Bernard Diomede, Zinedine Zidane (Claude Makelele, 60th), Robert Pires, Youri Djorkaeff, Stephane Guivarc'h (David Trezeguet, 60th).
Subs not used:
Lionel Letizi, Vincent Candela, Frank Leboeuf, Ibrahim Ba.
Norway:
Frode Grodas; Alf Inge Haaland, Henning Berg, ClausLundekvam, Stig Inge Bjornebye, Petter Rudi, Lars Bohinen (Vegard Heggem, 79th), Bent Skammelsrud, Erik Mykland, Frank Strandli (Egil Ostenstad, 85th), Tore Andre Flo.