Olivier Giroud secures victory for France against Uruguay, Scotland clinch Nations League promotion
Olivier Giroud scored from the penalty spot for France as the world champion beat Uruguay 1-0 in a friendly match on Tuesday to conclude an exceptional year with a rather mundane display.
The French bounced back from a 2-0 loss at the Netherlands that cost them a spot in the Nations League finals but failed to impress in front of their home crowd ahead of a four-month pause before the next international break in March. The win was also marred by teenage forward Kylian Mbappe having to leave the game with a shoulder injury.
Coach Didier Deschamps, who led France to a second World Cup title this summer in Russia, had made changes at the back following the loss in Rotterdam, with Adil Rami starting at the heart of the defense alongside the returning Mamadou Sakho, who played his first international in more than two years.
Ferland Mendy won his first cap at left-back and midfielder Tanguy Ndombele started in place of Steven Nzonzi, who disappointed against the Dutch and was sent to the bench.
The French played aggressively in midfield from the start and dominated throughout against an uninspired Uruguay team that defended deep and left a lot of space for the hosts to exploit. Uruguay strikers Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez were shut down by the French defenders but the world champions rarely threatened.
Mbappe was at the heart of most of France's chances before his injury. He missed a good chance 15 minutes in when he collected a pass from Antoine Griezmann and broke into the box but completely fluffed his shot.
He hurt his shoulder on the half-hour mark after he failed to convert another one-one-one with Uruguay keeper Martin Campana, who dived at his feet to thwart the danger. Mbappe jumped to avoid contact with Campana and fell awkwardly on his right shoulder, forcing Deschamps to substitute him for Florian Thauvin.
France continued to push after the interval and was awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute after Martin Caceres was penalized for a handball in the box. Giroud converted his 33rd international goal with a low shot to the right of Campana.
Uruguay substitute Jonathan Rodriguez had a good chance to level with seven minutes left when Cavani picked him out unmarked in the box but he mishit his volley.
Here's how that France XI is expected to be set up.
Didier Deschamps has made four changes from the side that lost to Netherlands last Friday with Adil Rami, Mamadou Sakho, Ferland Mendy and Tanguy Ndombele coming in for Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Lucas Digne and Steven Nzonzi.
There's plenty of talent in that Uruguay XI tonight but they are missing a number of key players. Fernando Muslera, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez, Sebastian Coates, Gaston Silva, Marcelo Saracchi and Cristhian Stuani are all absent.
Oscar Tabarez's side were beaten 1-0 by Brazil in a fiery South American clash last Friday, with Neymar's 76th minute penalty the only goal of the game.
It's been a mixed set of results for the French since their World Cup glory in Russia last summer.
They've only managed to win two of their five matches since the tournament and were comprehensively beaten by Netherlands in their most recent fixture last week.
Netherlands dramatic 2-2 draw with Germany last night saw Didier Deschamps side narrowly miss out on a place in the Nations League finals and the French will be eager to finish what's been a memorable 2018 on a high tonight.
One player who you may not recognise in that France XI is Ferland Mendy, who's making his senior international debut at left-back tonight.
The 23-year-old has been a regular for Lyon this season, scoring one goal in 14 appearances so far. His namesake and fellow left-back Benjamin Mendy has not taken part in France's latest international fixtures after undergoing knee surgery last week.
We're ten minutes away from kick off in Paris still, but Scotland's all important Nations League clash with Israel is underway at Hampden Park. They need a win to secure promotion to League B.
The last time France and Uruguay met was in the World Cup quarter-finals earlier this year, of course. Goals from Raphael Varane and Antoine Griezmann were enough to secure victory for the French on the day.
Antoine Griezmann is done cuddling Diego Godin and Luis Suarez in the tunnel and the players are now out on the pitch for the national anthems in Paris.
Huge chance for the home side. That looked like 1-0. Blaise Matuidi guides a crossfield pass into the path of Oliver Giroud but the Chelsea striker is unable to finish inside the box.
