Rémy strikes as France extend unbeaten run

Les Bleus extended their unbeaten run to 16 games with substitute Loïc Rémy scoring the only goal of the game against the United States in Paris.

After a goalless first half in which neither side managed a shot on target, the game sprung to life after the break with Rémy grabbing the winner 19 minutes from time.

France coach Laurent Blanc said that he would test some inexperienced players at the Stade de France and he was true to his word with full backs Jérémy Mathieu and Mathieu Debuchy earning first caps. There was also an unfamiliar centre-back pairing with Laurent Koscielny lining up alongside Adil Rami.

France dominated possession in the first half, and had the only meaningful attempts before the break, with Jérémy Menez failing to find the target from Franck Ribéry's cut-back before Karim Benzema latched on Mathieu Debuchy's fine pass, but the Real Madrid CF forward was thwarted by an excellent Carlos Bocanegra challenge.

Early in the second half, Benzema went close again, this time powering a header against the crossbar from Ribéry's corner. Moments later, Tim Howard was the hero for the visitors as he kept out Benzema's free-kick. The Everton FC goalkeeper could do nothing to prevent Rémy netting on 71 minutes, though, after the Olympique de Marseille forward latched on to Marvin Martin's through ball.

France missed chances to extend their lead as Jürgen Klinsmann's men pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Les Bleus will be full of confidence heading into Tuesday's friendly against Belgium.

France: Lloris, Debuchy, Rami, Koscielny, Mathieu, M'Vila (Gonalons 60), Diarra, Ribéry (Rémy 63), Menez, Gameiro (Giroud 59), Benzema (Martin 63).

United States: Howard, Cherundolo, Chandler, Goodson, Bocanegra, Beckerman (Jones 65), Williams (Johnson 70), Edu, Shea (Beasley 70), Dempsey, Altidore.