France defeated Brazil 2-1 in a friendly match played in the United States. Kylian Mbappé was the best player on the pitch and scored a goal, helping Deschamps' team to a victory over Carlo Ancelotti's side. The Real Madrid forward had already announced he was fully recovered from his knee injury and proved it on the field at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston. Mbappé turned the game around in the 31st minute with a masterful finish, chipping the ball over the on-rushing Ederson after a through-ball from Dembélé. Brazil dominated the first half but woke up in the second, playing with a man less after Upamecano was sent off for fouling Wesley as he was bearing down on the French area. The Italian coach also lost Raphinha to injury at halftime, replacing him with Luiz Henrique. However, the 'Verdeamarelo' took a step forward, thanks precisely to the audacity of the Zenit winger, who came off the bench and tested Maignan in his very first action. Upamecano's red card, decreed by VAR at the start of the second half, changed the course of the game, but only for a few minutes. Deschamps sacrificed Dembélé, the current Ballon d'Or winner, to bring on a defender. Neither team wanted to risk a major setback 77 days before the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Brazil, lurking with an unprecedented defense, tried to hit on the counter-attack. They didn't capitalize. Even with a man less, 'Les Bleus' scored again through Ekitiké in the 65th minute. France, without pressing the accelerator, felt comfortable with possession. Still, the first warning came from Raphinha. To make matters worse, Raphinha had to be substituted at halftime with muscular discomfort. The match started with great respect from both teams. The next test for Brazil will be against Croatia on Tuesday. Bremer pulled one back for 'Canarinha' with 15 minutes to go, slamming home a loose ball in the area.
