Diego Maradona continued his winning start as Argentinean coach as the Albiceleste beat France in a highly competitive game in Marseille. A first half strike from Jonas Gutierrez was doubled by Lionel Messi in the closing stages of the match. Les Bleus would certainly enjoy their spells of pressure; however, the Argentine defence was hugely impressive and held out impassively to maintain a clean sheet.

France head coach Raymond Domenech had promised before the game that there would be no quarter given by his men, who were keen to play the fixture as close to a competitive match as possible. Many fouls broke up play, giving the match a disjointed feel at times and, as a result, the two sides failed to create a good number of clear-cut opportunities.

Those chances that did arrive tended to fall towards the French, who would enjoy marginal dominance and territory over the opening 45 minutes. Les Bleus first tentative opening came after good work from Franck Ribery, who would give Emiliano Papa a torrid time, saw the Bayern Munich star create room for a cross that was inadequately cleared. Thierry Henry pounced on the ball but his effort was comfortably off target.

Lionel Messi was not be outdone by the home favourite. Fed by Sergio Aguero, he burst into the box with a characteristic turn of speed but his effort was blocked by the giant boot of William Gallas.

After a slight lull in proceedings, France would enjoy a significant spell of pressure. Nicolas Anelka would be superbly denied by the impressive Juan Pablo Carrizo has he attempted to score from just inside the box. Henry was given room to shoot from 25 yards, something he dually did, finding the Argentine goalkeepers handling uncertain as he needed two attempts to hold his stinging shot. Riberys dancing feet then created space down the right again but his effort was blocked by the custodian.

Messi and Aguero were being well marshalled by the French defence, however, les Bleus had not reckoned on the force of Newcastle United star Jonas Gutierrez. Moments after seriously testing home goalkeeper Steve Mandanda for the first time, the midfielder would win the ball on the left, bustle into the box and strike a crisp shot into the net with his right foot.

Shaken by conceding minutes before the interval, France threatened to fall further behind as Javier Zanetti pushed up to the edge of the box, however, the full-backs effort was repelled by Mandanda.

Openings were few in the early stages of the second half as France wanted to push on but were quickly shut down by the impressive visiting defence. When Diego Maradonas men received possession, they frequently looked to counter quickly, with Messi and Aguero particular thorns to the French defenders, however, the tricky strike duo were unable to threaten Mandandas goal despite scaring the home defence with their pace and skill.

Waves of French attacks continued to break against the Argentine defensive wall rather peacefully. Philippe Mexes headed a Ribery corner over the bar while the quiet Yoann Gourcuff delivered a dangerous free-kick that was gobbled up solidly by the visiting goalkeeper.

The intensity of the match, for a friendly, was quite remarkable, yet the brilliance of Fernando Gago and Javier Mascherano in the Argentine midfield was notable by the few opportunities France had to strike at goal.

Just as the game appeared to be drifting towards a tame conclusion, Messi capped his performance with an excellent goal. Substitute Carlos Teves powered forward, finding the diminutive striker, who spun Bakari Sagna before beating Mandanda with a shot that ripped past the goalkeeper.

Content to keep possession where possible in the closing stages, this goal effectively finished the match off. The home crowd shouted ole with every completed Argentine pass on an evening that a very enjoyable, and very watchable, international friendly had been played out in front of them.

Diego Maradona can be pleased with the manner in which his side won. Defensively they were solid while, in Frances half, they always posed a significant threat to their opposition with the dangerous duo of Messi and Aguero leading the line.

Other than Ribery, who was electric at times in the first half before fading a little in the second, France lacked such inspiration when attacking. With a key World Cup double-header against Lithuania fast approaching in the spring, Domenech will need to find some additional flair from somewhere or else les Bleus dreams of South Africa could be in tatters.

FRANCE 0-2 ARGENTINA

0-1 40 Jonas Gutierrez
0-2 82 Lionel Messi

France: Mandanda; Sagna, Abidal, Mexes, Gallas; L. Diarra, Toulalan; Ribery, Gourcuff, Henry; Anelka (Benzema, 65)

Yellow Cards: Toulalan 18, Gallas 38

Argentina: Carrizo; Zanetti, Papa, Heinze, Demichelis; Mascherano, Gago, Maxi Rodriguez (Angeleri, 81), Jonas Gutierrez; Messi, Aguero (Tevez, 81)