France lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in a friendly at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Thursday, and while it was just a warm-up game, it wasn't the kind of result Didier Deschamps was hoping to send his team off with.
France controlled most of the first half. Kylian Mbappe, Michael Olise, and Rayan Cherki all had decent chances, and Cherki finally put one away right before the break. He picked up a loose ball on the right side of the box, cut inside, and put a low shot into the far corner. France went into halftime up 1-0.
Then Deschamps made five substitutions at the half, including pulling Mbappe. The momentum flipped. Ivory Coast equalized in the 53rd minute through Guéla Doué, who finished a quick team move set up by Nicolas Pépé. France couldn't regain control, and in the 84th minute, Manchester United forward Amad Diallo slotted home a first-time finish off a Doué cross to win it for the visitors.
France still plays Northern Ireland on Monday before their World Cup opener. Ivory Coast heads to their June 15 match against Ecuador with a confidence boost and an xG that actually beat France's on the night 1.31 to 0.88.