Croatia 0 France 2

France were presented with few problems in Zagreb and ran out comfortable 2-0 winners in this friendly.

Few commentators have named France as the team to beat at the Euro finals next month but their technical mastery in this game hinted that they could repeat their 1984 triumph. They are more of an attacking threat than at the World Cup finals when these two sides met in the semi final with France also winning.

Croatia were poor as their aging side could find few moves to trouble a solid French defence.

Robert Pires broke of from media briefings to support an imminent summer move to Arsenal to put the visitors into the lead in the 23rd minute.

The OM forward was on hand to bury an easy chance presented by Croatia goalkeeper Zeljko Pavlovic when the youngster failed to hold an angled shot from Thierry Henry. Pavlovic had only been on the field for ten minutes after replacing veteran Drazen Ladic who was using a brief appearance in this match to confirm a retirement from international football after 59 appearances at age 37.

At the end of the game Croatian fans at the Maksimir stadium booed their team and the weak performance of the players was very 'end of season'.

The closest they came to a goal was a lob from Davor Suker in the 68th minute which hit the top of the cross bar allowing Mario Stanic to hit a close range effort which hit Barthez' post.

Such misfortune suggests Croatia were unlucky but France were deserving winners and confirmed the win only seconds after their double scare when Wiltord crossed for a close range finish by David Trezeguet.