France 3-2 England


Kane is congratulated by his England team-mates

Captain Harry Kane scored twice but England were beaten 3-2 by 10-man France in a friendly in Paris on Tuesday.


Interim Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron hot-footed it from counter-terrorism talks to see the touching reversal of the tributes paid at Wembley when the sides met days after the Paris attacks in November 2015. The English flag was visible around the Stade de France, where the Republican Guard played a rendition of Oasis' Don't Look Back in Anger as fans and players showed solidarity and togetherness.

When attention turned to football, those in attendance bore witness to a superb team goal inside just nine minutes as England clicked in style. Alli's crossfield ball was controlled by Raheem Sterling, before smartly putting in the overlapping Ryan Bertrand with a superb backheel. The left-back sent in a low cross to the far post for Kane to finish a superb team move - a delicious opener France quickly attempted to cancel out.

Olivier Giroud's frustration was visible after an offside call saw his superb acrobatic goal cancelled out, before Dembele somehow directed wide after bursting through to latch onto a pass from Mbappe. They were warning signs Southgate's men failed to heed.

Giroud was allowed to meet a free-kick with a powerful header that Tom Heaton did well to stop. But the Burnley goalkeeper, making his first start, could not stop Umtiti rifling home the loose ball. Heaton denied Mbappe at his near post as France looked to go ahead, before England belatedly showed some attacking intent as Bertrand was denied by Hugo Lloris.

Eric Dier fired just wide from the resulting corner on a night when the Tottenham midfielder was not giving his defence enough protection. France capitalised on England's fragile defence two minutes before half-time.

Dembele led the charge and played the ball out wide, only for Gary Cahill's intervention to play it back into his path. Showing great composure he cut in and got away a shot that Heaton denied, only for France to score another rebound as Sidibe turned in. Sterling saw a penalty appeal overlooked before half-time, with Kyle Walker and Jack Butland brought on for the second period, which got off to a controversial start.

Alli's burst into the box ended under pressure from Varane, with referee Massa pointing to the spot and referring to the video assistants. Confusion reigned at the Stade de France in the minute between awarding the penalty and handing a straight red card to Varane, with Kane then stepping up to beat Tottenham team-mate Lloris from the spot.

Deschamps moved to steady the ship as the sting was temporarily taken out of proceedings as England struggled to make their advantage count. Butland did well to deny Mbappe before dawdling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was robbed of possession, allowing the French teenager to unleash a shot that rattled the bar.

Thomas Lemar saw his follow-up hacked off the line and shaky England were punished in the 78th minute. Impressive Paul Pogba put through Mbappe, whose pass wide was met by a nice touch and low drive from Dembele that beat Butland. The England goalkeeper prevented it getting any worse on a night when Southgate's side struggled.


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