Euro 2012 Qualifying, Group D Recap: France Win But 2nd-Place Belarus Fall

France earned a very tight away win against Albania to maintain their cushion atop Group D, but it shouldn't have been this difficult for them. Karim Benzema and Yann M'Vila got the visitors started with two goals in the first ten minutes, but France failed to add to that lead and Albania scored shortly after half time, with Erjon Bogdani cutting the lead in half in the 46th minute. Cue rather tense times for the French who were force to rely increasingly on Hugo Lloris in goal to stop Albania from equalising. Still, nervy wins are wins, and they weathered the minor second half tempest that Albania summoned. It all would have been far easier if the French players weren't quite so good at hitting the post rather than the goal.

Second-place Belarus, meanwhile, took a hit, being downed 2-0 by Bosnia-Herzegovina at home. The visitors scored two first-half goals in quick succession (albeit none from Manchester City powerhouse and Premier League player of the month Edin Dzeko) and then spent the rest of the match fouling their more gracious opponents, earning the implausible total of nineteen million yellow cards. Belarus remain in second place, but Bosnia and Romania (who beat Luxemborg 2-0 in a game experts are describing as 'dull') are now hot on their heels after that reverse.