France kept up their perfect record in 2014 World Cup qualifying with a 3-1 win over Belarus in Paris.
Etienne Capoue and Christophe Jallet put the hosts in control with second-half strikes but Belarus replied through Anton Putilo to maintain a chance of salvaging a result.
The visitors’ hopes were dashed by a Franck Ribery strike on 80 minutes as Didier Deschamps’ side sealed their second win from as many matches in the qualifying campaign for the Brazil showpiece.
France started strongly and saw chances from Mamadou Sakho and Olivier Giroud well saved by Belarus goalkeeper Sergei Veremko.
Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye also went close with a shot that crept wide of the post, while Sakho squandered his second sight on goal when he headed straight at Veremko.
After failing to threaten in the first half, the visitors came out the livelier of the two sides following the interval and went close through Stanislav Dragun, who was denied by Hugo Lloris.
With Belarus committing forward, Les Bleus pounced on the counter as Ribery set up Capoue to slot in the opener.
Jallet’s cross-cum shot supplied France’s second goal, as the Paris Saint-Germain man saw his delivery swerve toward goal and crash in off the woodwork.
Belarus responded strongly to the double blow, with Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa’s mistimed challenge giving them a penalty that was initially saved by Lloris, only for Putilo to sweep in the rebound.
Ribery capped a fine individual display when he was played in by Karim Benzema, sealing the three points and top spot in Group I.
