A late goal from Kylian Mbappe spared France's blushes against the USA but there will still be plenty of questions going into the World Cup after the 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.
France manager Didier Deschamps changed his side in Lyon as he moved to a diamond and made four changes from the team that beat Italy 3-1 on June 1 as Djibril Sidibe, Benjamin Mendy, Blaise Matuidi and Olivier Giroud came in for Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Corentin Tolisso and Ousmane Dembele.
They were dominant against a youthful US team who grew into the opening half and it was the visitors who took the lead when Julian Green pounced on Sidibe's poor clearance to beat Hugo Lloris at his near post.
USA's midfielder Julian Green (C) scores a goal during the friendly football match between France and USA on June 9 , 2018, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, central-eastern France.
Image credit: Getty Images
In the second-half there was a worrying clash of heads when Giroud and Matt Miazga went down covered in blood and eventually both players were taken off.
The press of the American youngsters gave France plenty of problems as Tyler Adams, Will Trapp and Weston McKennie took the game to the host's more experienced midfield.
However France found the equaliser when Mbappe turned home substitute Pavard's cross but they couldn't find a winner which will worry fans ahead of the World Cup.
TALKING POINT
Concerns for France against inexperienced opponents. This was a rather worrying result for France. The concerns about their defence, and in particular Lloris, are well-founded and were shown up again today. However it was supposed to be a given that if there were problems at the back then their offence would bail them out. That didn't happen today and at times they were very blunt indeed. They looked better when Giroud came off and they reverted to a 4-3-3 but there are still question marks about how to get the best of Antoine Griezmann.
France's forward Antoine Griezmann reacts after missing a goal opportunity during the friendly football match between France and USA on June 9 , 2018, at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, central-eastern France.
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Tyler Adams (USA) European viewers may not have seen much of Adams but they soon will do. Whilst international team-mate McKennie has been making waves at Schalke Adams has continued to ply his trade in MLS with the New York Red Bulls. There are reports that could be about to change, with sister club RB Leipzig rumoured to be one destination, and he showed tonight that he is more than ready to move to Europe. Possibly stronger as a right-back, Adams still has plenty of potential in midfield and the way he hurried and harassed Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Matuidi was hugely impressive. This young man has a bright future in the game.
France's midfielder Paul Pogba (L) vies with USA's midfielder Tyler Adams (R) during the friendly football match between France and USA at the at the Parc Olympique lyonnais stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon on June 9, 2018
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
France - Lloris 4, Sidibe 4, Varane 5, Umtiti 5, Mendy 6, Kante 4, Pogba 6, Matuidi 5, Griezmann 5, Giroud 5, Mbappe 7. Subs: Lucas 6, Pavard 6, Fekir 6, Tolisso 5, Lemar 5, Dembele 5.
USA - Steffen 7, Moore 5, Carter-Vickers 5, Miazga 5, Parker 6, Robinson 5, Adams 7, Trapp 6, McKennie 6, Green 6, Wood 5. Subs: Palmer-Brown 5, Yedlin 5, Corona 5, Villafana 5, Sargent 5.
KEY MOMENTS
44' - GOAL! FRANCE 0-1 USA (GREEN) Crikey where has that come from?! Completely against the run of play and the US are ahead. The ball comes in from the right and Sidibe's clearance is poor. Green pounces and he beats Lloris at the near post. Both full-back and keeper have to do better there.
48' - OFFSIDE GOAL! More great work from the US as they get Moore free on the right. His cross is turned in by Wood but it's offside.
56' - Oh this doesn't look good. There is a load of blood coming off Miazga and Giroud after a clash of heads.
France's forward Olivier Giroud (C) is comforted by team mate forward Kylian Mbappe (L) as he leaves the pitch after suffering a head injury during the friendly football match between France and USA at the at the Parc Olympique lyonnais stadium in Decines
Image credit: Getty Images
78' - GOAL! FRANCE 1-1 USA (MBAPPE) There it is! It's been coming and it is the hugely impressive Mbappe who gets the goal. Pavard gets down the right and puts in a much better ball than anything Sidibe put in all night and Mbappe tucks it home.
90+4' - SAVES! Brilliant double save from Steffen at the end as he denies first Fekir and then Dembele. Excellent from the US goalkeeper.
KEY STATS
- Hugo Lloris has conceded at least one goal in each of his last 5 games for Les Bleus, his 2nd longest run after September 2012-June 2013
- Kylian Mbappe has now scored 52 goals in 119 first-team games for club & country.
- Julian Green is the first American to score a goal against France in the history of the USMNT.
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