France U21 vs England U21. Under-21 International.
Stade Robert Bobin.
Tuesday 15 November 2016 11:49, UK
Moussa Dembele scored twice as France U21 came from behind to beat England U21 3-2 at the Stade Robert Bobin in a friendly international on Monday night.
The visitors took an early lead at Bondoufle, south of Paris, through Duncan Watmore's sensational solo effort, before Dembele powered in his first goal after 18 minutes.
The Celtic forward then gave the home team the lead with a delicious free-kick just past the hour-mark, only for Lewis Baker to respond with his own set-piece strike nine minutes from time.
However, moments later France claimed the bragging rights after another free-kick goal, Wylan Cyprien saving the best for last after somehow beating Jonathan Mitchell with a long-range piledriver as the Young Lions lost for the first time since June 2015, having gone 15 games unbeaten.
Aidy Boothroyd made a total of nine changes from the team that left it late before beating Italy 3-2 on Thursday to record a ninth successive victory.
Just Nathaniel Chalobah - who captained the side - and Lewis Baker retained their places in what was a strong-looking starting line-up that also included the likes of Rob Holding and Watmore.
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Winks and Swansea City's Alfie Mawson both made their debuts as Boothroyd took the opportunity to look at other players ahead of Euro 2017 in Poland.
However, the visitors also knew they faced a stern challenge on the outskirts of Paris as France, despite failing to qualify for next summer's tournament, were still unbeaten at home since November 2010.
One player who looks to have already booked his place on the plane to Poland, though, is Watmore after the Sunderland forward opened the scoring with a breathtaking individual goal just nine minutes in.
Having been found by Baker just inside the opposition half, Watmore still had much to do, but the 22-year-old showed impressive feet and pace to skip past two players, before beating France goalkeeper Thomas Didillon with an exquisite 30-yard chip.
Boothroyd will be annoyed, though, with the way his players took their foot off the gas after that early strike, allowing the home team back into the contest, with the in-form Dembele equalising only nine minutes later.
Toulouse midfielder Yann Bodiger picked out the forward with a defence-splitting through ball, before the 20-year-old then beat Mitchell with a well-struck effort that flew into the roof of the net.
From that point on, France caused England's defence a number of problems, none more so than the powerful Dembele, who could have scored twice more before finally giving his side the lead for the first time after 64 minutes.
England left-back Kortney Hause was harshly penalised for bringing down Jean-Kevin Augustin some 25 yards from goal, with Dembele beating Mitchell from the subsequent free kick, although the 'keeper did get hands to the ball and will be disappointed not to have done better.
Dembele spurned a great chance to kill England off and register a hat-trick after Chalobah was caught on the ball, but having been played clean through on goal, the frontman chipped the ball over the advancing Mitchell, but also the bar.
And that miss looked like being costly when Baker beat Didillon with an inch-perfect curling free kick that found its way into the back of the net off the inside of the left-hand post.
However, with seven minutes to go, France deservedly claimed the spoils when Cyprien thumped another free kick - awarded straight from the restart and from a tight angle towards the left-hand touchline - past a startled Mitchell at his near post.
Boothroyd's men went in desperate search of a late equaliser as they tried to avoid their first defeat since losing to Italy in Olomouc nearly 17 months ago, the closest they came though being Baker's effort that Didillon just about managed to keep out.
