A goal from substitute Loic Remy proved enough to give France a 1-0 friendly victory over Spain in an entertaining game in Paris.
The Chelsea striker had been on the pitch just 16 minutes when, with just over a quarter of an hour remaining, he brilliantly fired home after a free-flowing French move down the left.
Spain boss Vicente del Bosque had promised a new era for his side and named three new caps in his starting line-up. In came Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal at right-back, Athletic Bilbao central defender Mikel San Jose and Raul Garcia of Atletico Madrid in midfield. Surprisingly David de Gea was named in goal at the expense of Iker Casillas.
In contrast, opposite number Didier Deschamps fielded the core of the team that impressed so much in the World Cup during the summer, with Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema leading the line.
The game began at a frantic pace and it was the home side that looked more threatening in the opening 10 minutes, De Gea forced into saving a cross-shot from Benzema and a Pogba effort from outside the box.
Even so, it was not until the 25th minute when the first real chance arrived, Benzema making a mess of a Pogba ball into the box and turning his close-range effort wide. At the other end, Cesc Fabregas saw his strike from distance take a deflection and loop over the crossbar as Spain looked to get a foothold in the game.
Seven minutes before the break Benzema, who was looking the liveliest player on the pitch, again proved dangerous and De Gea had to be on hand to keep out his attempted curler from the edge of the penalty area.
However, despite chances for both teams remaining at a premium, it was Spain that finished the half stronger, although their final ball left a lot to be desired.
Ander Iturraspe replaced Sergio Busquets for Spain at the start of the second half, yet it was Deschamps’ men who came out of the blocks quickest, Benzema sweeping the ball home from Sissoko’s cross on 49 minutes only to be harshly flagged offside.
The French continued to dominate, with La Roja uncharacteristically struggling to keep possession of the ball, and Valbuena wasted a good opportunity by shooting wide on 64 minutes.
Nonetheless, the deadlock was eventually broken on 74 minutes, substitute Loic Remy, on for Antoine Griezmann, finishing superbly to give France the lead after a flowing move involving Benzema, Pogba and Valbuena.
The advantage was almost short-lived, replacements David Silva and Paco Alcacer narrowly failing to get on the end of a centre from Azpilicueta just 60 seconds later. And it was Silva again five minutes later, the Manchester City midfielder shooting wide of a post as he began to look the player capable of opening up the French rearguard.
Although the visitors did look slightly more menacing towards the end and had a penalty appeal turned down, the hosts held on to record what was ultimately a deserved victory.
France 1-0 Spain
Remy 74 (FR)
France:Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra (Digne 67); Pogba, Matuidi (Cabaye 67), Sissoko (Schneiderlin 77), Valbuena (Cabella 77), Griezmann (Remy 58); Benzema
Spain: De Gea; Carvajal, Ramos, San Jose, Azpilicueta; Busquets (Iturraspe 46), Koke, Raul Garcia (Silva 58), Fabregas (Pedro 67), Cazorla (Isco 77); Diego Costa (Alcacer 67)
Referee: Alain Bieri (Switzerland)
