France claimed a 2-1 victory over Brazil in an international friendly at Gillette Stadium, demonstrating resilience after defender Dayot Upamecano received a red card in the second half. Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike scored for Les Bleus, while Gleison Bremer netted a late consolation for Brazil. The win serves as a strong statement for France ahead of the World Cup.
The match kicked off with both teams displaying high tempo and attacking intent, though clear chances were scarce early on. Brazil threatened first as Raphinha fired over from a good position and Gabriel Martinelli curled an effort close. France countered effectively, with Kylian Mbappe and Hugo Ekitike testing the Brazilian defense. In the 32nd minute, Ousmane Dembele delivered a precise pass for Mbappe to chip Ederson and open the scoring at 1-0. Brazil responded without precision, leaving Mike Maignan largely untroubled before halftime. Luiz Henrique, introduced as a substitute, energized Brazil's attack early in the second half and forced a save from Maignan. The turning point came in the 55th minute when Upamecano was sent off via VAR for denying Wesley Franca a goalscoring chance. Despite the man disadvantage, France extended their lead in the 65th minute. Substitute Michael Olise assisted Ekitike, who lofted the ball over Ederson for 2-0. Brazil pressed relentlessly, with Ibrahima Konate and Maxence Lacroix holding firm for France. In the 78th minute, Casemiro kept a set-piece alive for Luiz Henrique to tee up Bremer's close-range finish, making it 2-1. Vinicius Junior drove forward in the closing stages, nearly creating further chances, but France withstood the pressure to secure the win.
