France moved off the foot of their Nations League group after an impressive 2-0 win against Austria in Saint-Denis on Thursday.
Les Bleus were dominant from start to finish at the Stade de France and moved a point clear of their visitors, who would have relegated the world champions to League B with a win.
Kylian Mbappe had the ball in the net after 90 seconds, but his strike was ruled out as he was standing offside when Youssouf Fofana took his initial shot.
Didier Deschamps’ men continued their fast and aggressive start with Aurelien Tchouameni’s deflected strike just about whistling over the crossbar.
After some wonderful link-up play with Olivier Giroud, it looked for all the world that Mbappe would break the deadlock from close range, but the PSG forward couldn’t get a clean contact on the ball when trying to chip Patrick Pentz and Austria were let off the hook.
Antoine Griezmann and Mbappe once more went close over the next few minutes but again Ralf Rangnick’s men just about survived.
Austria’s charmed life continued when Tchouameni’s overhead kick rattled the crossbar, and Pentz somehow saved the rebound from Griezmann.
A teasing cross from Jonathan Clauss was turned just over by the lively Giroud before Mbappe rounded Pentz only for Fofana to fluff the following cutback as France somehow went into the half-time break without a goal to show for their efforts.
After the interval, Mbappe released Griezmann and while he couldn’t keep the ball under control, it fell kindly for Clauss to strike, but his shot sailed behind for a goal kick.
France finally took a deserved lead after 55 minutes when Giroud picked up a loose ball from Marcel Sabitzer in midfield and sent Mbappe racing away, shrugging off the challenges of several Austria defenders and firing into the roof of Pentz’s net.
The French onslaught continued as Clauss’ teasing cross into the six yard box was met by an outstretched Tchouameni, but the Real Madrid midfielder couldn’t keep his strike on target.
Giroud was denied a penalty when he was brought down by David Alaba, with the referee waving play on and insisting the challenge was clean.
But the Milan striker wasn’t to be denied much longer as he doubled France’s lead, rising high to meet a delicious Griezmann cross.
Substitute Ousmane Dembele teed up Mbappe in stoppage time to add a third, but his strike was closer to finding the corner flag than the back of the net .
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