Giroud rescues French

Spain 1 France 1

Sergio Ramos fired the hosts in front the 26th minute but they were left to rue Cesc Fabregas’ missed penalty just before half-time as the visitors took control of the game after the break.

Karim Benzema and Moussa Sissoko looked to have squandered France’s best chances to claim a point as they missed clear openings late on but with the last attack of the game Franck Ribery crossed for Giroud to head low into the far corner.

Didier Deschamps lined up his team in a very conservative 4-1-4-1 formation, and it appeared to be working wonders early on. Spain stayed patient, but still looked a bit frustrated with the congestion in the middle and the work rate of France’s midfielders.

But Sergio Ramos took advantage of some awful set piece marking in the 25th minute, though he needed two chances to do it. He hit an unmarked header off the bar, but France didn’t clear their lines. The ball found its way back to Ramos, and he smashed it into the top of the net.

Spain should have been up 2-0 at by half time, but Hugo Lloris came up with some massive heroics. Laurent Koscielny gave away a penalty in the 42nd minute when he hacked down Pedro, getting nowhere near the ball, but Lloris knocked away Cesc Fabregas’ penalty attempt to keep the deficit at one goal.

Unlike the first half, which was all Spain, the second half was much more even and France actually produced more chances than the hosts and they were rewarded in the 94th minute. Franck Ribery lofted a hopeful cross into the penalty area, but Giroud timed his jump perfectly and directed an excellent header past Iker Casillas at the far post.

SPAIN: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa (Juanfran 51), Jordi Alba, Iniesta (Torres 75), Xavi, Fabregas, Alonso, Busquets, Silva (Cazorla 13), Pedro.

FRANCE: Lloris, Koscielny, Debuchy, Evra, Sakho, Valbuena, Cabaye, Gonalons (Matuidi 57), Ribery, Benzema (Giroud 87), Menez (Sissoko 68).

Referee: Felix Brych (Germany).