France laboured to a narrow 1-0 win over Sweden in their opening UEFA Nations League clash at the Friends Arena.
Sweden had a better opening period and should have been 1-0 ahead seven minutes before the break after Marcus Berg went clear inside the box but Les Bleus goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rushed off his line to make a crucial save from close range.
However, France were clinical as they broke the deadlock with their first big chance in the last four minutes of the first stanza after Kylian Mbappe went past two challenges and found the back of the net with a strike from an acute angle.
Didier Deschamps' men had a glorious chance to win by two goals with a penalty awarded to them in the last action of the game but Antoine Griezmann struck his spot-kick over the bar.
Les Bleus did enough though to win their opening game but they had to settle for a second spot in League A Group 3 after Portugal thrashed Croatia 4-1 in their opener.
Belgium started their UEFA Nations League campaign on a good note after scoring on either half to beat Denmark 2-0 at Telia Parken.
The Red Devils had a dream start as Jason Danayer opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a strike from close range after a cross by Dries Mertens from a corner situation.
The sides were fashioning chances after that but the tempo of the match slowed down in the latter stages of the first stanza and Belgium went to the break leading by an odd goal.
Mertens gave Belgium a two-goal cushion with 14 minutes remaining as Roberto Martinez's charges held on to secure the three points to move top of Group 2 in League A while Denmark were left at the bottom and without points.
Other results:
Gilbralta 1-0 San Marino
North Macedonia 2-1 Armenia
Azerbaijan 1-2 Luxembourg
Cyprus 0-2 Montenegro
Estonia 0-1 Georgia
Iceland 0-1 England
Portugal 4-1 Croatia
