France 3 Honduras 0: Didier Deschamps criticises Fifa after goalline technology confusion led to Honduras believing own goal had been ruled out

Deschamps believes that the correct image must be shown to support the referee after the Estadio Beira-Rio was left in state of confusion following the goal-mouth scramble

Didier Deschamps complains to the Fifa official following the confusion over Karim Benzema's strike (Getty Images)

France national team manager Didier Deschamps has criticised Fifa for showing the wrong image when the side’s second goal was subjected to the first video technology used at a World Cup finals, leading the Honduran players to believe it had been chalked off.

The technology correctly ruled ruling that the Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares had scrambled the ball over the line after Karim Benzema’s shot rebounded off the post, along the goalline towards him. But the confusion was caused by the machine registering two decisions in quick succession. The message stating ‘no goal’ initially registered on the stadium LED screen because the ball did not rebound from the post across the goalline. Then it stated ‘goal’ when Valladares juggled the ball over the line.

“It’s a good solution and the goal counts,” said Deschamps. “The referee gets the signal. We were just worried they showed an image that does not correspond to the goal, when it hit the post. Only when the keeper pushes it into the goal does it counts. They were nervous and so were we. If the image is to be shown it must be the one that backs up the ref’s decision.”

Honduras manager Luis Suarez said: “I wasn’t angry because they gave the goal, I was angry because they didn’t. The first decision was no goal and then the machine said it was a goal. So I don’t know what to think. If the technology sends a clear message I don’t understand how the system can say first there was no goal and then it was.”

Deschamps admitted he had been concerned that his star 21-year-old midfielder Paul Pogba was at risk of being sent off after becoming in responding to the aggressive Honduran tactics during the European nation’s 3-0 win. Pogba was subsequently substituted before the hour. “He was tackled very badly,” Deschamps said. “He had a reaction and it could have had consequences. I warned [Patrice] Evra, [Yohan] Cabaye and [Paul] Pogba at half time. I told them to watch out because they would have to show self-control self [so we did] not finish up with ten on pitch.” The French manager is also worried about the fitness of Cabaye, a star performer against the Hondurans who sustained a hamstring problem during the 3-0.

The French supporters sang La Marseillaise after the PA system failed to play the anthems. Fifa officials said that both anthems had played successfully during the pre-match practice and the failure had been baffling. “That’s football,” Deschamps said. “It was a surprise. Of course it is good to have the National Anthem.”

Suarez said: “There are no excuses. They played better than we did. There are certain things we have to improve. But sometimes it is difficult to play with fewer players for such a long time, especially against a very well organised team.”