Kylian Mbappe on target as France overpower Brazil in Massachusetts

Kylian Mbappe made a start for Les Bleus and opened the scoring after 32 minutes with a well-taken strike before Hugo Ekitike weighed in with a goal of his own on 65 minutes.

Gleison Bremer netted a consolation for Selecao with 78 minutes on the clock.

While France put out a strong team for this clash, Brazil were far more experimental with a number of numbers of changes to their regular line-up.

Both sides were creative in the opening period with Gabriel Marinelli coming closest for the Brazilians with a shot from the edge of the area that he pulled just wide of the target.

Mbappe though showed no ill effects of his left knee injury as he latched onto a defensive splitting Ousmane Dembele pass before chipping the advancing Ederson for the opening goal.

Mbappe was close to a second before the break ahead of saved Casemiro effort at the other end.

A more forthright Brazil emerged for the second period and started to stretch the French but Vinicius Junior saw his piledriver kept out by Mike Maignan.

France were then reduced to ten men as Dayot Upamecano saw red in the 55th, but it didn't stop Ekitike from casually stroking home a second goal, just ten minutes later.

Brazil looked to respond and finally cut the deficit when Bremer reacted to a half-cleared free-kick to past poke the ball from Luiz Henrique past Maignan, for his first senior international goal.

There was still time for an equaliser bit both Bremmer and Vinicius were wasteful in their attempts as France ultimately held on for the friendly win.

Brazil next play Croatia on Wednesday as France take on Colombia.

After the game, Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti said: "Today's match has shown me in a big way that we can compete with the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about that.

"We played against a very strong team, and we competed until the last minute in an attempt to win.

"I am convinced that we will fight for the World Cup with all our energy."

"I think Raphinha played very well. He had some muscle discomfort at the end of the first half and we had to substitute him, but he had many opportunities and very good movement off the ball. 

"And Vini always tries; he always makes the difference. A striker cannot always score, but the work done by both of them was good," added Ancelotti.