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PARIS - Two months after losing the World Cup final to Italy, France beat the Italians 3-1 in a European Championship qualifier on Sidney Govou’s two goals and one by Thierry Henry.
Govou scored in the second minute, and Henry added another in the 17th for his 37th international goal. Govou scored again in the 56th when he headed home Willy Sagnol’s cross.
Alberto Gilardino scored for Italy in the 20th.
The animosity flowed from French fans toward Italy even before the match began. In the World Cup final, France star Zinedine Zidane was ejected for a head-butt to the chest of Italy’s Marco Materazzi in extra time, and Italy won on penalty kicks.
Materazzi admitted this week he insulted Zidane’s sister.
Despite pleas from France coach Raymond Domenech, fans began booing when the Italian national anthem started, but soon stopped. Later, with the win certain, some fans at Stade de France broke into chants of “Zizou, Zizou,” in homage to the retired Zidane.
Materazzi missed the game under a two-game suspension for his role in the head-butting. Zidane was given a three-game suspension.
“The perfect match is where you score on every attack and where you are never in danger,” Domenech said. “I have to admit we weren’t far from the perfect match.”
France has six points from two matches in Group B, behind Scotland on goal difference. Italy has only one point from its two matches.
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni conceded that France looked like the fitter team.
“We thought they might be a bit fresher and more lively than us,” Donadoni said.
“We have beaten two World Cup winners in the last two months,” said Domenech, referring to the World Cup quarterfinal win over Brazil. “But what’s more important is that we have distanced Italy by five points.”
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Domenech told his players not to get carried away by the win.
“Let’s not think we have already qualified,” Domenech said. “We need to stay calm. But if we win in Scotland, then we will be in a strong position in the group.”
With two minutes gone, Henry sent the ball left to William Gallas and his dipping cross was volleyed into the corner of the net by Govou, who only started because Louis Saha was not fully fit.
“We knew Sidney would be ready and we had no worries about that,” Domenech said.
Gianluca Zambrotta shot over the crossbar in the fifth minute as Italy sought a quick reply, but it was a rare attack.
“The next step will be very important,” said Zambrotta. “We have to cancel out the negative result from tonight.”
Henry ended a seven-game scoreless streak when he curled the ball under Gianluigi Buffon from 12 yards after the goalkeeper had blocked Florent Malouda’s powerful shot.
With French fans singing, Italy quickly got a goal back when Gilardino was left unmarked to head in a free kick from Andrea Pirlo with goalkeeper Gregory Coupet stranded.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Alex Morgan's 2 goals, including the winner in stoppage time, lift the U.S. past New Zealand 2-1.
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Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
After leading by 18 points in the first half, the Los Angeles Lakers were staring at a four-point deficit with less than two minutes to play.
Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
