France 1-0 Uruguay: World champions end 2018 on winning note

Chelsea's Olivier Giroud scores only goal of game from penalty spot

Highlights of the International friendly between France and Uruguay

A shoulder injury to Kylian Mbappe overshadowed France's 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay at the Stade de France on Tuesday

After the disappointment of seeing the Netherlands pip them to a place at the Nations League finals with a late Virgil van Dijk goal in Germany on Monday, Olivier Giroud's 52nd-minute penalty gave France victory in a repeat of the two teams' World Cup quarter-final meeting in Russia.

But Mbappe had to be replaced in the first half after a nasty fall, continuing a miserable night for his Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel after the German had already seen Neymar hobble off injured early in Brazil's friendly with Cameroon in Milton Keynes.

Kylian Mbappe was substituted in the first half after the forward took a tumble and landed awkwardly on his right arm

PSG face Liverpool in a crucial Champions League clash at the Parc des Princes on November 28.

Roared on by a large crowd in Paris, France opened up the Uruguay defence in only the fourth minute, but Giroud fired a first-time shot wide of the near post with just goalkeeper Martin Campana to beat.

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Matias Vecino headed too close to Hugo Lloris as the visitors settled into the game, but Mbappe should have put France ahead when he raced clean through on goal, only to mishit a chipped effort well wide.

The PSG man was left writhing on the ground in pain after a heavy touch saw him tackled by Campana, appearing to sustain a shoulder injury as he crashed to the turf.

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Mbappe tried to play on, but he only lasted a matter of seconds before signalling to the bench that he could not continue and was replaced by Florian Thauvin.

Chelsea striker Giroud wasted another good opportunity for the French shortly after the break, heading over from the edge of the six-yard box.

Image: Olivier Giroud scored the winner for France

But he was given an even better chance to get on the scoresheet as Martin Caceres was penalised for handball after Antoine Griezmann's shot struck his chest and his arm.

Giroud stepped up and slammed a confident spot-kick into the bottom corner past Campana.

The world champions started to play with more confidence, and Tanguy Ndombele forced the onrushing Campana into a good save after a wonderful scooped pass by Griezmann.

Elsewhere, late substitute Matteo Politano's stoppage-time goal clinched Italy a 1-0 win in their friendly against the United States in Belgium.

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