Matuidi puts France on brink of finals with winner, Netherlands set to miss out again

France took a step closer to the World Cup finals in Russia with an edgy 1-0 win over Bulgaria in Sofia.

Blaise Matuidi's superb third-minute goal was enough for France, who now top Group A and will qualify for the World Cup if they beat Belarus on Tuesday. But they are still not at all good, playing to the nadir of their collective ability; it is impossible to imagine how a squad so good could possibly achieve a lower standard.

Yet they started well in Sofia, Lucas Digne and Antoine Griezmann combining to set Matuidi for a fine finish. The problem was that they did more or less nothing thereafter, likewise Bulgaria, though on 37 minutes Hugo Lloris was forced to make a magnificent save from Georgi Kostadinov.

In the second half, neither side got especially close to scoring, with France - now without the injured N'Golo Kante - nervously protecting their lead, and Bulgaria too ordinary and too fearful to properly test them. So the game phutted out, and the French people must now prepare themselves for a summer of frustration, as epochal talent is unnecessarily frittered.

In the other game in the group, Netherlands beat Belarus 3-1 but will need to hammer Sweden by seven goals on Tuesday if they are not to miss out on a trip to Russia.

Why does Didier Deschamps still have a job? No normal person can enjoy advising that another normal person should lose their employment. But Deschamps ought to have led France to victory in a home Euros and could not, unable to find a formation that suited his players, and has now made improbably hard work of what ought to have been a straightforward World Cup qualifying group. France should be among the top contenders in Russia, but it is hard to see him presiding over the necessary improvement.

Blaise Matuidi (France) If it's got to be someone, in a game as poor as this was, it's got to be the man whose lovely goal decided things.

Bulgaria: Iliev 6, Popov 6, Bodurov 6, Bozhikov 6, Zanev 6, Manolev 5, Slavchev 5, Kostadinov 6, Nedelv 6, Galavinov 5, Delev 5. Subs: Kraev 6, Dimitrov 6.

France: Lloris 7, Sidibe 6, Varane 6, Umtiti 5, Digne 6, Kante 6, Matuidi 6, Tolisso 5, Mbappe 6, Lacazette 5, Griezmann 5. Subs: Rabiot 5, Payet 5, Giroud 6.

Matuidi's goal was France's first in the first three minutes in three years.

France have kept three consecutive clean sheets for the first time since November 2013 to May 2014.

3’ - GOAL! Bulgaria 0-1 France (Matuidi) This is a lovely goal as well as a crucial one! Mbappe spreads the ball left for Digne, whose low cross is more of a pass. It finds Griezmann, and he ought really to shoot, but instead cushions first-time into the path of Matuidi, seeming to waste his better angle. But Matuidi simply isn't arsed, crashing a rising finish above Iliev and into the far side-netting from an acute angle.

26’ - Excellent from France, Matuidi again releasing Mbappe, who comes inside on to his right foot and lifts a ball over to Griezmann, lurking on the right of the box. It takes a while to come down, but he quickly works his body into a shooting angle and lashes a shot just wide.

32' - Oh dear, Sidibe is lying face down in the wet ... and I'm not surprised. He pushed the ball inside and set off down the line, so Manolev brought up a forearm and caught him one across the phizog. That should be a red card, but it's nothing.

37’ - What a mess! What a save! Finally, Bulgaria do something, and Nevelev whacks a shot from just inside the box, right side, which Lloris can only shovel back into play. So Delev nods square and Kostadinov must surely score, except Lloris flies back into the middle of his goal to claw away! And Bulgaria keep up the pressure, Manolev drilling a drive which Lloris is forced to tip away.

46’ - France get us away again and immediately Bulgaria get into them again, Kostadinov finding Delev on the right, who comes inside and curves a low shot just wide of the near post.

81' - Rabiot is late on Zanev, and again Bulgaria have a decent chance to cause some bother. But from out on the left, level with the edge of the box and 25 yards out, Delev flights his free-kick past the back post and out of play.