International Friendly
Result: France 1-0 Uruguay
Date: 20 November 2018
Venue: Stade de France
Kylian Mbappe suffered an injury in France's 1-0 win over Uruguay in their final international friendly of the year at the Stade de France on Tuesday evening.
Olivier Giroud had a chance to open the scoring for Les Bleus in the fourth minute after he was teed up by Blaise Matuidi inside the box, but his strike sailed inches wide at the near post.
Mbappe had an opportunity to lob Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Campaña in the 15th minute after some good combination play, but the French forward’s effort missed the open net inches wide.
Sadly though, Mbappe needed medical attention after a collision with Campaña and despite coming back to the pitch for a few minutes before the half-hour, he was ultimately replaced by Florian Thauvin.
Giroud’s hold-up play was impressive for France towards the end of the half, but there were no clear chances as the two sides went into the break goalless.
Didier Deschamps’ troops were awarded a penalty seven minutes into the second stanza after a handball inside the area. Giroud stepped up to make it 1-0 with a sweet left-footed strike away from Campaña.
Oscar Tabarez’s charges were struggling to build momentum in attack after the hour-mark as the French defence were hardly challenged.
France were overwhelming the Sky Blue for the rest of the half as Deschamps made a couple substitutions, with Nabil Fekir and Steven Nzonzi coming on to replace Matuidi and Tanguy Ndombele.
With five minutes remaining, Cristian Rodriguez should have netted the equaliser for the visitors after being teed up by Edinson Cavani, but with only Lloris to beat, he fluffed his chance at close range.
That was it for Uruguay, as the World champions held on for the win in their final game of the year.