Summary

  • 20:05 BST - France v Wales

  • International friendly as both sides prepare for Euro 2020

  • Neco Williams controversially sent off for handball

  • Danny Ward saves Karim Benzema penalty

  • Kylian Mbappe goal gives France half-time lead

  • Antoine Griezmann scores fine second early in second half

  • Substitute Ousmane Dembele steers in final French goal

  • Joe Allen starts, Aaron Ramsey and Ben Davies come off the bench

  • Wales beaten for only the second time in nine games

  • France have lost only three times since lifting the 2018 World Cup

  1. Until the weekendpublished at 22:35 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    So that's all from us after what in the end was a disappointing defeat featuring a disappointing red card.

    However, in terms of building for the European Championship, Wales competed well against the tournament favourites and welcomed back three key players in Ben Davies, Joe Allen and Aaron Ramsey.

    It was also a special evening for Rubin Colwill, still a teenager and now a full Wales international.

    We will be back here on Saturday when Wales host Albania in Cardiff in front of 6,500 fans.

    Hope to see some of you then. Thanks for following along with us.

    Bonne nuit, as they say in Nice.

    The red card awardImage source, Getty Images
  2. 'The fourth official apologised at half-time'published at 22:32 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    Robert PageImage source, Getty Images

    Wales interim manager Robert Page told Sky Sports:

    "It was very harsh (to send Neco Williams off).

    "The fourth official apologised at the start of the second half, it's impossible for Neco to do anything else. It changes the game and spoils it.

    "We tweaked our formation when we saw the France one and I thought we started really, really well.

    "It is disappointing, but there is a lot to take out of it.

    "I said at half-time, it could happen in the competition, so you have to deal with it.

    "But playing France with 11 men is a tough task. With 10, we just had to get as many positives out of it as we could.

    "Danny Ward played really well and he has given us a good headache going into the tournament.

    "There were no injuries, which is a positive.

    "We have another game on Saturday and we will again have a plan in place for giving players the right minutes.

    "Rubin Colwill has lots more caps to win, the boys are making a fuss over him, he's completely part of that group now."

  3. 'It was a real shift out there'published at 22:17 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    Danny WardImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Wales goalkeeper Danny Ward told Sky Sports:

    "It was tough. We knew with the squad they have it would be, with 11 men, let alone 10.

    "The red card changes the plan for us all and we just had to try and stay together and be solid for the rest of the game.

    "People have said the red card is harsh, it is what it is, we can't change it now.

    "Despite the scoreline, I thought it was a real shift out there and we got we wanted out of it in terms of minutes.

    "We do penalty analysis before the game and then you feel it on the pitch, you pick which way you think they will go and thankfully it came off for me."

  4. A bright future for Rubin Colwill?published at 22:14 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Cardiff and Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    I refrain from getting too carried away as I don't want to put too much pressure on a kid.

    You have to take your time with him and some space to make mistakes too.

  5. 'We showed character'published at 22:13 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    Wales winger Dan James told Sky Sports:

    "I am not one to talk about referees but it's taken 10 minutes to say it's clear and obvious? I don't even think it was a penalty.

    "It can't be clear and obvious if he needed that long to give it.

    "Even their players were saying 'don't send him off.'

    "If it had happened against Switzerland we would be a lot more gutted.

    "I thought Danny Ward was the best player on the pitch, he made some unbelievable saves. All credit to Danny.

    "I had chances I would have liked to score with. But we can take a lot of positives going into the Euros. We showed character."

    Dan JamesImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  6. Postpublished at 22:07 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    FT: France 3-0 Wales

    Stick with us and we will bring you some reaction when we get it.

  7. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:55 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    France 3-0 Wales

    That's it.

  8. Postpublished at 90 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Just two minutes to be added on.

    A small mercy.

  9. Postpublished at 88 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    I know I sound like a propogandist at this point, but honestly, this is a night of more positives than negatives for Wales, despite the score.

    They have played well with 10 men and looked a handful with 11.

  10. Postpublished at 87 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Karim Benzema fires over.

    On another night he would have had a hat-trick.

    He definitely adds a dimension to France, who are already world champions.

    Surely they are the side to beat this summer?

  11. Postpublished at 85 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Luca Digne hammers the ball at goal, but it hits the side-netting.

  12. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 84 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Wissam Ben Yedder replaces Antoine Griezmann.

    Only Kylian Mbappe scored more goals in French football this season.

  13. Postpublished at 83 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Another good save from Danny Ward as France push and push. Karim Benzema just can't beat the Leicester man tonight.

  14. Centre of attention on his returnpublished at 21:47 British Summer Time 2 June 2021

    France 3-0 Wales

    Nathan Blake
    Former Cardiff and Wales striker on BBC Radio Wales

    A good finish but that's really good centre-forward play from Karim Benzema.

  15. SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 83 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    Wow.

    Rubin Colwill, 19, is on for Joe Morrell.

    In February he wasn't in the Cardiff team and now he's on for his international debut against the world champions.

  16. Postpublished at 81 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    A firm strike by Ousmane Dembele, but Danny Ward saves.

  17. Postpublished at 80 mins

    France 3-0 Wales

    I mean, we have said it already, but Wales lost a pre-Euro 2016 friendly 3-0 as well.

    And if you are going to have bad luck with a red card, wouldn't you want it to be in a friendly? In a game where three key players come back?

    As for the score, what's the French for c'est la vie?

  18. goal

    GOAL - France 3-0 Walespublished at 79 mins

    Ousame Dembele

    It just isn't Karim Benzema's night. He rattles the post after bringing the ball down on his his chest, but the rebound falls straight to Ousmane Dembele who simply couldn't miss.

  19. Postpublished at 76 mins

    France 2-0 Wales

    Prime Gareth Bale or Harry Wilson territory and David Brooks hits the wall with little conviction. A bit of a waste.

  20. Postpublished at 75 mins

    France 2-0 Wales

    Aaron Ramsey wins a free-kick for Wales just outside the penalty area after super build-up play by Kieffer Moore.