Olivier Giroud secures victory for France against Uruguay, Scotland clinch Nations League promotion
Re-live the action from the Stade de France
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.
Re-live the action below:
90 mins - France 1-0 Uruguay
We're into three minutes of added time at the Stade de France.
Uruguay finally look like they've realised they're 1-0 down.
90 + 1 mins: France 1-0 Uruguay
Griezmann attempts to counter and gets in behind the Uruguay defence, only for Bentancur to get back and stop him in his tracks.
90 + 2 mins: France 1-0 Uruguay
Griezmann goes into the referees book in stoppage time.
90 + 3 mins: France 1-0 Uruguay
Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko replaces Griezmann with seconds remaining.
France 1-0 Uruguay
An Olivier Giroud penalty secures the victory for Les Blues.
France 1-0 Uruguay
I said at half-time that this was very much a 'friendly' and the second half proved that, too.
The reigning world champions managed to see off a memorable year with a victory thanks to an Olivier Giroud penalty in the second half.
The penalty was awarded after Uruguay defender Martin Caceres blocked a goal bound Antoine Griezmann effort with his hand inside the box.
Giroud was the man given the responsibility of scoring the penalty and, despite the goalkeeper diving the right way, the Chelsea striker slotted home.
Uruguay were poor throughout and struggled to create any meaningful opportunities. It will be interesting to see what 2019 brings for them after an underwhelming year.
There were worries at half-time after PSG forward Kylian Mbappe was taken off midway through the first half with a shoulder injury. The early signs, though, are that the issue is not a serious one, with the 19-year-old pictured alongside his team-mates on the France bench in the second half.
2018 will remembered as a very special year for France and Didier Deschamps.
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