France edge it in Cyprus

Cyprus 0 France 2

Henry scored in the closing stages of the second half, after Sylvain Wiltord's opener, for only his third international goal in 11 matches this year compared to seven goals in eight matches for club side Arsenal this season.

France beat Cyprus by 5-0 at the Stade de France in September last year but this time the Cypriots could easily have scored a couple of goals with Michalis Constantinou and Yiannakis Okkas continually looking dangerous.

France coach Raymond Domenech said: "Cyprus fought hard and worked for each other and were well organised but we were also determined and got a good result. We are making progress."

France are now in second spot in Group 4 behind Republic of Ireland on goal difference. Both teams have eight points from four matches. Cyprus are in fifth spot with just one point.

CYPRUS: Panagiotou, Nikolaou (Lambrou 76), Kakoyiannis, Okkarides, Okkas, Charalambides (Makrides 55), Konstantinou, Charalambous, Ilia, Satsias, Nicolas Georgiou (Yiasoumi 81).

FRANCE: Barthez, Vieira, Gallas, Pires (Moreira 46), Wiltord, Henry, Silvestre, Squillaci, Dacourt (Diarra 89), Givet, Luyindula (Evra 61).

Ref: Alan Larsen (Denmark).