Defeat to 10-man France shows England's shortcomings, fumes manager
Gareth Southgate and Ousmane Dembele
England manager Gareth Southgate looks on during the friendly against France in Paris on Tuesday. Pic/Getty Images
Gareth Southgate has a better idea of the task facing England after his side deservedly lost to France. A draining season came to a surprisingly entertaining end in Paris, where captain Harry Kane netted an early opener at the end of a fluid Three Lions move. However, Didier Deschamps' thrilling young side turned things around before the break thanks to Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe.
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France striker Ousmane Dembele
Raphael Varane was sent off before a penalty was fired home by Kane, with Les Bleus rallying as Ousmane Dembele capped a fine display by wrapping up a 3-2 victory that left Southgate frustrated. "In the space of 90 minutes we saw the things we're very good at - with the ball we caused a lot of problems, took our first goal very well. And equally we saw the things that have to get better - defending as a team and managing the game, in particular when France had gone down to 10 men.
"We looked more anxious while they went to 10. We just didn't manage that period of the game well. We were tired. We tried to deal with the physical capabilities France had - and their pace and athleticism was a problem for us all night," Southgate said.
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