France striker Sidney Govou fired the holders into the Confederations Cup semi-finals with an unconvincing 2-1 win over Japan in Group B tonight.
Govou fired home the winner in the 66th minute after Robert Pires, captaining France for the first time, had converted a 43rd minute penalty before Shunsuke Nakamura deservedly levelled for Japan on the hour mark.
The win was marred only by a stoppage-time red card for France defender Willy Sagnol.
France, who beat Colombia 1-0 in their opener, have six points, while Japan and the Colombians, who beat 10-man New Zealand 3-1 earlier today, both have three points before the final round of matches. The top two go into the semi-finals.
Japan, looking for revenge after their 1-0 defeat by France in the 2001 Confederations Cup final, played the better football in the first half and hit the woodwork in a spirited closing assault on the France goal at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard.