PARIS -- Striker Olivier Giroud scored twice and winger Mathieu Valbuena set up three goals as France began its World Cup preparation in fine style with a 4-0 win against Norway on Tuesday.
[b]Yeezy 350 v2 Black Cheap[/b] . Paul Pogba headed France into the lead in the 15th minute and, after Frances performance had dropped in intensity, Giroud got things going early in the second half with an expertly-taken goal. Substitute Loic Remy scored shortly after he coming on, and Giroud rounded off a good night for coach Didier Deschamps team with a glancing header. France plays Paraguay on Sunday and then takes on Jamaica in its final friendly match on June 8 before heading to Brazil. "We played with a lot of intensity and determination, which is very positive," Deschamps said. "Were not ready (for the World Cup) yet, but you can sense that there is a collective determination in this side." Les Bleus have been drawn in Group E and will face Ecuador, Honduras and Switzerland. "Its about getting players used to our system, players who may play in a slightly different way for their clubs," Deschamps said, looking ahead to the next two matches. Deschamps rested striker Karim Benzema, winger Franck Ribery and goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, with Stephane Ruffier making his second appearance in goal for France. Norway goalkeeper Orjan Haskjold Nyland was busy from the start. He tipped over Antoine Griezmanns header from Valbuenas freekick and then made a brilliant point-blank stop from Girouds header from the resulting corner. Griezmanns glancing header flew past him --and the post -- moments later. The fourth headed chance went in, however, as Pogba arched backward to guide in Valbuenas cross from the left. Griezmann looked lively and almost created a goal for Giroud near the end of the first half, cutting the ball back a fraction behind the Arsenal forward, and Ruffier kept out an effort from right back Tom Hogli as Norway went close in the 43rd with a race chance. Giroud made it 2-0 in the 51st, taking down a high ball from Valbuena and cutting inside defender Martin Linnes in one smooth movement before flicking a rising shot into the top corner. Frances third goal saw right back Mathieu Debuchy releasing his Newcastle teammate Remy with a defence-splitting pass, and Remy giving Nyland no chance with a confident low finish in the 67th. Two minutes later, Giroud headed in Valbuenas floating cross from the left for his seventh international goal. "Valbuena has been very good for us over the past two years," Deschamps said. "He plays with a smile on his face." France could have scored more, but Nyland denied Remy three times.
[b]Cheap Yeezy 350 v2 Zebra[/b] . - The Denver Broncos kept rookie wide receiver Tavarres King from joining the Green Bay Packers by promoting him to their active roster Tuesday.
[b]Wholesale Yeezy 350 V3[/b] . -- David Ortiz saved his only hit for a key moment for the Boston Red Sox.OKLAHOMA CITY - Kevin Durant, the NBAs leading scorer of this decade and the reigning MVP, will likely miss the first six to eight weeks of the season after fracturing a bone in his right foot.The Oklahoma City star forward complained of an ache in his foot after practice Saturday, the team said. Tests showed he has a Jones fracture, a broken bone at the base of his small toe. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said Sunday that surgery is likely, and that similar injuries have forced players to miss six to eight weeks.The Thunder open the season Oct. 29 at Portland. A six-week absence could have Durant back for the start of December, with about 65 games remaining.Were really fortunate to be catching it when were catching it, Presti said. Very fortunate that Kevin notified us yesterday, and were catching it kind of on the front end, before this became a little bit more of an acute issue.The Thunder have a couple of high-profile matchups in December, playing LeBron James and the Cavaliers on Dec. 11 and going to San Antonio for a Western Conference finals rematch on Christmas.Durant won the scoring title last season, collected his first MVP award and led the Thunder to the Western Conference finals. He skipped playing for the U.S. national team in this summers World Cup so he could get additional rest. He played in two preseason games before complaining of pain.On Media Day, Durant was asked about witnessing Indiana Pacers forward Paul Georges grotesque broken leg during a USA Basketball scrimmage and offered perspective on injuries.You could get hurt walking outside, Durant said. I know you hear that a lot, but you can get hurt anywhere. Just knowing that keepss you kind of levelheaded, and at peace with what happens on that court.
[b]Yeezy 350 Boost v2 Cream White[/b]. If you worry about it too much, you start to get scared a little bit. So I just try not to worry about it.The Thunder were forced to play for nearly two months last season without their other All-Star, Russell Westbrook, because of a knee injury, but remained among the Wests best because of Durant.He averaged 32 points, 7.4 points and 5.5 assists and was an overwhelming winner of MVP honours, ending LeBron James bid for a third straight. Durant had a run of 41 consecutive games with at least 25 points, the third-longest streak in NBA history.He has won four of the last five scoring titles, and was at his best during Westbrooks absence from late December through the All-Star break, averaging 35 points and 6.3 assists as the Thunder went 20-7.For the first time, Durant will have an extended absence. He has never missed more than eight games in a season, and he has missed 16 regular season games in his seven NBA seasons. Now, it will be up to Westbrook to raise his game while Durant is sidelined, or the Thunder risk falling behind quickly in the powerful West.You dont replace Kevin Durant, Presti said. Its not going to be one person, its going to be a collective mindset. We know were a better basketball team with Kevin Durant on the floor, but we can have some influence over how good we are in the meantime. Were certainly not going to be looking at the calendar waiting for him to get back. I dont think hed want us to do that.___AP Basketball Writer Brian Mahoney in New York contributed to this report.___Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/CliffBrunt . ' ' '
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