Low-key French go down 1-0 in Moscow friendly games program

A third-minute blunder by French reserve goalkeeper Lionel Letizi handed Russia victory in a friendly on Wednesday that must leave the World Cup hosts more than a little concerned.

Without injured playmaker Zinedine Zidane, the French attack, led by a less than sparkling Youri Djorkaeff, rarely posed a threat to a solid Russian defense.

The Russian side can even feel hard done by that Sergei Yuran's third-minute goal was its only success.

The home team got off to a flying start on a chilly night when Metz keeper Letizi, in for Fabien Barthez who was hurt in training on Monday, lost concentration on a backpass.

Yuran darted in to dispossess him and slotted home at close range.

Yuran nearly had a second in the 32nd minute when he just failed to connect with an Igor Kolyvanov strike that beat Letizi but flew wide.

In the 50th minute, wayward French marking saw Yuran free on the edge of the box. He lobbed Letizi but to French relief the ball came back off the post.

Stephane Guivarc'h and second-half substitute Alain Boghossian both had good long-range efforts, in the 13th and 67th minutes respectively.

But they were confidently dealt with by Spartak Moscow keeper Alexander Filimonov, as was a menacing Djorkaeff free kick in the dying moments.

It is the first defeat for France, who has never won in six visits to Russia, since it lost to England last June.

It was also its first away game in 14 months and coach Aime Jacquet may be glad he will play the entire World Cup finals at home.

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France calls on youth against Russia, March 23.
France recalls Karembeu, Lamouchi, March 19.

Russia: Goalkeepers: Stanislav Tcherchesov (Tirol), Sergei Ovchinnikov (Benfica), Alexander Filimonov (Spartak Moscou)	France: Goalkeepers: Fabien Barthez (Monaco), Lionel Létizi (Metz)
Defenders: Youri Kovtun (Dynamo Moscou), Igor Tchougainov (Lokomotiv Moscou), Alexei Arifullin (Lokomotiv Moscou), Youri Nikiforov (Sporting Gijon), Igor Yanovsky (Alania Vladikavkaz), Dmitry Khlestov (Spartak), Maxim Bokov (CSKA Moscou)	Defenders: Vincent Candela (AS Roma), Marcel Desailly (Milan AC), Franck Leboeuf (Chelsea), Lilian Thuram (Parme)
Midfielders: Andrei Kanchelskis (Fiorentina), Valery Kechinov (Spartak), Dimitri Alenichev (Spartak), Andrei Tikhonov (Spartak), Viktor Onopko (Oviedo), Dimitri Khokhlov (PSV Eindhoven), Vladislav Radimov (Saragosse), Sergei Semak (CSKA)	Midfielders: Alain Boghossian (Sampdoria), Didier Deschamps (Juventus Turin), Christian Karembeu (Real Madrid), Sabri Lamouchi (Auxerre), Emmanuel Petit (Arsenal), Zinedine Zidane (Juventus Turin)
Forwards: Sergei Yuran (Bochum), Vladimir Beschastnykh (Racing Santander), Igor Kolyvanov (Bologne), Alexei Gerasimenko (Dynamo Kiev)	Forwards: Bernard Diomède (Auxerre), Youri Djorkaeff (Inter Milan), Stéphane Guivarc'h (Auxerre), Marc Keller (Karlsruhe), Robert Pirès (Metz), David Trézéguet (Monaco)