Raphael Varane headed the ball in inside the final 10 minutes to gives France a 1-0 win over Sweden in an international friendly this evening.

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The hosts could have been ahead inside the opening minute when Dimitri Payet found himself in space on the edge of the box, but his curling effort was marginally wide.

Paul Pogba also proved a threat for France early on, but the Juventus man blasted the ball wide with a 25-yard strike before his through-ball for Layvin Kurzawa was volleyed high.

Sweden created little in the first half, with only Sebastian Larsson looking to get a shot away, but his effort was blocked before it could test Steven Mandanda.

France continued to press as half time approached, but Mathieu Valbuena could only fire high before forcing a save from Andreas Isaksson.

The home side continued their dominance at the start of the second half as Payet played the ball in for Gignac, but the striker's low finish was well saved.

Against the run of play, the visitors came close the breaking the deadlock just ahead of the hour mark when Larsson curled the ball in for Isaac Kiese Thelin, but the young forward headed over.

However, France continued to look the more likely in front of goal as Antoine Griezmann and Gignac both had further chances.

The hosts finally took the lead inside the last 10 minutes when the captain for the night headed into the far corner following a well-timed pass from Griezmann.

They could have doubled their lead a couple of minutes later when they were awarded a penalty after a handball from Oscar Wendt, but Karim Benzema blasted the ball high from the spot.