France vs Brazil match report: Captain Neymar leads slick fightback

France 1 Brazil 3

Oscar celebrates after scoring Brazil’s equaliser five minutes before half time last night (AFP)

Brazil inflicted France’s first defeat since the World Cup finals last year when a perfectly controlled second-half earned them victory in Paris.

Neymar and Luiz Gustavo scored after the interval with Oscar having cancelled out Raphaël Varane’s first-half opener as the visitors recorded a seventh consecutive win in the aftermath of their embarrassing World Cup campaign on home soil.

World Cup quarter-finalists France enjoyed a great start in a lively encounter but without the influential Paul Pogba through injury they were eventually overwhelmed in midfield.

Brazil dominated possession early on but Les Bleus were the most dangerous side, with Karim Benzema’s point-blank header being spectacularly saved by Jefferson in the 12th minute.

The Brazil keeper, however, could do nothing nine minutes later when Varane headed home from Mathieu Valbuena’s corner as the visitors’ defence again proved clumsy on set-pieces.

Brazil levelled five minutes before the break when Oscar scored their first goal at the Stade de France in four visits, pushing the ball between goalkeeper Steve Mandanda’s legs with a first-time shot after being nicely set up in the box by Firmino.

Eight minutes into the second half, Neymar, named captain by coach Dunga, fired a powerful angled shot into the roof after being played in by Willian.

Didier Deschamps’s France team came close to an equaliser shortly afterwards but Benzema skied his volley over the bar.

Luiz Gustavo then headed home from Oscar’s corner to make it 3-1 and wrap up a deserved win – Brazil’s first in France since 1992.

Two minutes later, Willian raced down the left but was denied by Mandanda, who was deputising for the injured Hugo Lloris and did not have a particularly impressive match.

France: Mandanda; Sagna, Varane, Sakho, Evra, Matuidi (Giroud, 84), Schneiderlin, Sissoko (Kondogbia, 74), Griezmann (Fekir, 74), Benzema, Valbuena (Payet, 82). Substitutes not used: Costil, Jallet, Guilavogui, Zouma, Tremoulinas, Lacazette, Koscielny, Ruffier.

Brazil: Jefferson; Danilo, Miranda, T Silva, Gustavo (Fernandinho, 89), Elias, Oscar (Souza, 86), Neymar, Willian (Costa, 83), Firmino (Adriano, 88). Substitutes not used: Alves, Gil, Gabriel, J Marcelo, Fabinho, Robinho, Coutinho, G Marcelo.

Referee: N Rizzoli (Italy)

Reuters