International friendly preview: France  vs  Serbia

 Laurent Blanc will expect France to make a more persuasive presentation next to Serbia on Thursday after stressed to beat Iceland

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France had to come from 2-0 down at half-time to secure a face-saving win in the friendly touching minnows Iceland at the Stade du Hainaut, Valenciennes, on Sunday.

Goals from Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami total France's winning run to 16 matches, with their last defeat a 2-1 friendly loss to Norway in August 2011.

Former to their underwhelming recital against Iceland, France had every motive for confidence leaving into Euro 2012.

Friendly victories over England, Brazil and Germany in the last 12 months established the development made under Blanc since a devastating group-stage exit from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Pinched in Group D of the European Championships, the 2000 winners begin their movement against England in Donetsk on June 11, before matches against co-hosts Ukraine and then Sweden.

France played England in the group stages of the Euros as lately as the 2004 opposition in Portugal, when injury-time goals from Zinedine Zidane saw Jacques Santini's side come from following to win 2-1 at the Estadio da Luz, Lisbon.

Just as in that match eight years ago, the 2012 face-off between old rivals England and France will be the curtain raiser for the group, and could go some way to deciding which teams progress to the winner stages.

France's next opponents, Serbia, failed to reach the Euros after final third in qualifying Group C, behind winners Italy and runners-up Estonia

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The Serbian promotion made headlines for the wrong reasons when their match absent to Italy in Genoa was forsaken due to crowd trouble caused by the travelling faction.

Serbia have endured a sorry run since their failed qualifying campaign, losing friendlies to Mexico and Honduras, while also picture with Cyprus.

They acquitted themselves well in a 2-0 friendly loss to world and European champions Spain on Saturday.

But disagreement has since struck again, with newly appointed manager Sinisa Mihajlovic axing star Adem Ljajic from the squad for refusing to sing the national national hymn prior to the Spain defeat.

Mihajlovic, no foreigner to punitive problems during his chequered playing career, coached Ljajic at Serie A club side Fiorentina prior to his notice in November 2011.

previous this month, Mihajlovic's successor, Delio Rossi, was also dismissed after punching Ljajic, who had mockingly commended his coach's result to replacement him.

Serbia will be hopeful for a activist, incident-free presentation when the teams meet at the Stade Auguste Delaune, Reims, on Thursday.

Although it is hosts France who are indisputably well-placed to continue their imposing charming run.

Competition   Friendlies:

Date              1 June 2012

Kick-off       19:00

Venue          Stade Auguste Delaune (Reims)