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NEWCASTLE United were rocked today when their England Under-21 winger James Milner handed in a written transfer request. Sick of the cost of gas? Try this...

Two second-half goals by Sidney Govou were the difference as France held on for victory over Sweden in an entertaining friendly in Gothenburg.Interim captain Henrik Larsson opened the scoring for the hosts early on at Ullevi Stadium but France got themselves back on level terms through Karim Benzema midway through the first half.Les Bleus nosed ahead after 61 minutes when Benzema's Lyon team-mate Govou sidefooted home, before the winger doubled his tally 16 minutes from time with the goal that proved to be the winner.Kim Kallstrom's late penalty proved nothing more than a consolation for the Swedes as the latest chapter of Raymond Domenech's reign as Les Bleus coach got off to a winning start.Domenech will be delighted with his team's attacking display but will be slightly concerned by some of their defending.The evergreen Larsson, 36, and striker partner Markus Rosenberg did not give the French rearguard a moment's peace in an open first half that could have yielded more than the two goals it did.Larsson's opener, which came in the sixth minute, was delightful, Kallstrom striding free on the right and crossing right-footed for the Helsingborg veteran to scissor-kick home from 10 yards out.Conceding a goal woke Les Bleus from their torpor and Benzema was unlucky to see his goalbound header from Florent Malouda's cross deflected clear by Olof Mellberg on the line.The top scorer in Ligue 1 last season did not have to wait long to bag his fourth international goal.In the 19th minute, Bacary Sagna was set free down the right by Jeremy Toulalan and the Arsenal full-back's cut-back was slammed into the roof of the net by the Lyon prodigy from eight yards.The Swedes dominated the rest of the half and found luck down the left channel of France's defence, where Manchester United left-back Patrice Evra and Roma centre-back Philippe Mexes often looked ill at ease.After another raid down the right by the busy Kallstrom, Rosenberg's first-time volley was saved superbly by Steve Mandanda, who reacted well to deny an effort on the rebound by the Werder Bremen striker.Larsson then had a near-post volley saved in the 36th minute by Mandanda, making his debut for France's senior team.The second half opened with Kallstrom, barely getting a look-in at French champions Lyon at the moment, stinging the hands of Mandanda with a long-range effort.At the other end, captain Thierry Henry saw his free-kick tipped over by Andreas Isaksson before Govou struck for the first time.A free-flowing move ended with Malouda crossing in from the left, his opposite winger getting on the end of it to fire past Isaksson.Henry, free on goal, was then again denied by the Sweden goalkeeper in the 64th minute but he turned provider as Govou sealed the win 13 minutes from time.The Barcelona striker's superb flick with his heel found Govou, whose initial volley was saved before the ball hit the winger's knee and dribbled in.Kallstrom netted an 84th-minute consolation from the spot after he was fouled in the area by Alou Diarra but Sweden could not find the equaliser.TeamsSweden: Isaksson, Nilsson (Stoor 62),Mellberg (Von Schlebrugge 69), Majstorovic, Hansson,Andersson (Holmen 83), Wilhelmsson (Wendt 46), Svensson,Kallstrom, Rosenberg, Henrik Larsson (Berg 62).Subs Not Used: Wiland, Granqvist, Ishizaki, Sebastian Larsson.Goals: Henrik Larsson 5, Kallstrom 85 pen.France: Mandanda, Sagna, Mexes, Evra, Gallas,Malouda (Alou Diarra 70), Benzema, Govou,Toulalan (Gourcuff 90), Lassana Diarra, Henry.Subs Not Used: Lloris, Clichy, Fanni, Boumsong, Flamini, Anelka.Booked: Lassana Diarra, Toulalan.Goals: Benzema 19, Govou 61, 77.Att: 23,263Ref: Erik Braamhaar (Netherlands). ...

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