Karim Benzema
Inspired by Karim Benzema, who was left out of the squad that created such a furore at the World Cup four years ago, France got off to the perfect start in Brazil with a comfortable victory over a Honduras.
France never looked back from the moment Benzema converted a penalty just before the interval, after Wilson Palacios had picked up a second yellow card.
With Honduras struggling to contain them, it seemed inevitable that more goals would follow. Matuidi hit the side-netting and Valladares denied Benzema from point-blank range but the veteran goalkeeper was powerless to stop the Real Madrid striker from adding his second of the night – a fierce angled drive into the roof of the net 18 minutes from time.
