FOOTBALL – GUELA Doue haunted his brother’s national team as he scored once and set up the winner to fire Ivory Coast to a shock 2-1 comeback victory over France in a World Cup warm-up match in Nantes yesterday.
The 23-year-old Strasbourg defender, older brother of France and Paris St Germain forward Desire Doue, cancelled out Rayan Cherki’s sublime opener shortly after halftime before delivering the cross that Amad Diallo converted for the winner, earning the Elephants a first-ever victory over Les Bleus.
France appeared comfortably in control after an encouraging first-half display and led through Cherki’s moment of brilliance, but Didier Deschamps’s side unravelled after the break as Ivory Coast punished a series of defensive lapses.
Les Bleus, who were on a nine-match unbeaten streak, next face Northern Ireland in a final warm-up game in Lille on Monday.
Meanwhile, European champions Spain were held to a 1-1 draw by Iraq in a warm-up in A Coruna, with manager Luis de la Fuente resting several key players before their final friendly against Peru in Puebla, Mexico, on Monday.
De la Fuente left out Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, David Raya, Victor Munoz, Marc Cucurella, Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martin Zubimendi, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal because of fitness concerns, leaving Spain with a heavily rotated starting line-up.
The result was a subdued send-off for Spain on home soil before they travel to North America today. They will begin their World Cup campaign in Group H against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay.
Spain struggled to break down an organised Iraq side whose compact low block denied the hosts the rhythm that carried them to the 2024 European Championship title in Germany.
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