The 1998 world champions broke the deadlock in the second half after a profligate first half in which Mamadou Sakho, Olivier Giroud and Yohan Cabaye failed to convert gilt-edged chances in the Group I clash at Stade de France in Paris.

Etienne Capoue opened the scoring after sustained pressure from Georgi Kondratiev's side, before Paris Saint-Germain captain Christophe Jallet fortuitously scored a long-range strike, despite his ball seemingly meant to be a cross to the goal mouth.

Despite Anton Putsila reducing the deficit after initially missing from the spot, Franck Ribery secured the nation's first victory over Belarus with a well-taken third.

The former Marseille boss was eager to stress that while they remained in a difficult group, they had gotten off to a flying start to top the division on six points.

"It was not easy today, we should've been ahead at half-time. Paradoxically, we scored when we were (performing) worse," the 43-year-old told TF1.

"It is not easy to win games in this group, as we have seen with Spain who struggled against Georgia (Spain won 1-0). Us? We have six points, we have achieved our goal."

On Jallet's first goal for les Bleus, Deschamps provided a tongue-in-cheek comment.

"Jallet has trained all week to score goals like that," Deschamps joked.

"I have a group of 23 players who are close to each other, I am trying to cover everybody, and those who have played today have proven their place in the squad."

France's next World Cup qualifier is against Spain on October 16.