William Gallas’ second-half header secured France a 1-1 draw with Tunisia in the World Cup warm-up action on Sunday. The former champions ran into tougher-than-expected game with the World Cup only 11 days away as the problems continue to mount for France coach Raymond Domenech, whose team fell behind to Isam Jomaa’s fifth-minute strike for Tunisia.
Arsenal defender Gallas, recently returned from injury, scored the equaliser in the 62nd minute to save the French.
Elsewhere, Ivory Coast blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 with Paraguay. Chelsea star Didier Drogba scored one of the Ivory Coast goals but Aureliano Torres equalized with a minute to go to complete Paraguay’s fightback.
In other matches, Mexico thrashed non-qualifier Gambia 5-1 with two goals each by Javier Hernandez and Adolfo Bautista, South Korea were beaten 1-0 by Belarus and Nigeria were held 1-1 by Colombia.
Meanwhile, in Concepcion, Chile, Suazo, Sanchez and Tello each scored apiece as Chile blanked Israel 3-0 in a friendly later on Sunday.
In the Austrian town of Kufstein, Syarhey Kislyak’s 53rd-minute goal gave non-qualifier Belarus a 1-0 victory and ended South Korea’s four-game winning streak, which included victories over Ivory Coast and Japan.