Menez and Cabayae take France past Ukraine
France's Jeremy Menez (centre) celebrates scoring their first goal of the game with team-mates Karim Benzema and Samir Nasri (right)
The players had to leave the field after just four minutes played because of the storming weather conditions. They only returned almost an hour after the scheduled kick off.
It took until the second half for the opening goal when Menez got inside of his marker and drilled home close range.
Then Newcastle United’s Cabaye added a second with a low shot from the edge of the danger area.
At one stage there was a doubt whether the match would be completed today because of the excess surface water.
But after some emergency drainage work by the ground staff, the match officials decided that the game would go on.
It was the French who grew comfortable with the wet conditions first and Menez, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery showed the most attacking intent in the first half.
Paris St Germain winger Menez even had the ball in the net but it was rightly ruled offside.
It was great work from Ribery that set up Menez’s goal and Benzema assisted in Cabaye’s goal.
Moments later, Cabaye came close to scoring a second when his attempt hit the upright.
Ukraine's game relied on long balls into space for Andriy Shevchenko and Andriy Yarmolenko to chase.
Veteran Shevchenko came closest with two efforts. But other than that the home side showed very little on the attack.
The co-hosts will be able to make amends when they face England in Tuesday's Group D decider while France face Sweden in Kiev.
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