Harry Kane’s brace went in vain as France brushed aside Raphael Varane’s video-assisted red card to claim a 3-2 victory over England in a high-octane friendly in Paris.

There was plenty to distract from the football – from the pre-match show of solidarity with the terror victims of Manchester and London, to Prime Minister Theresa May’s Mexican wave in the stands and finally the first ever use of VAR in a Three Lions match.

But the on-field action provided more traditional entertainment, Kane’s close-range finish and second-half penalty cancelling out efforts from Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe only for Ousmane Dembele to win it for Les Bleus 12 minutes from time.

England manager Gareth Southgate said: “We should have got a result. In the space of 90 minutes we saw the things we’re very good at – with the ball we caused a lot of problems, looked a threat, created good openings, took our first goal very well. And equally we saw the things that have to get better – defending as a team and the managing the game, in particular the period once France had gone down to 10 men. Those periods you have really got to control possession and stay calm, and I thought we looked more anxious while they went to 10 and they stepped up a level.”France manager Didier Deschamps said: “It was complicated by the sending off and the penalty. It was tricky and seemed quite harsh, but it was less significant because we won the game 3-2. We saw lots of quality, even with the team not the same in a friendly against an England team playing a different system to usual. The manner in which we played, with this attacking style and approach, was encouraging.”

Tweet of the match

Star man – Ousmane Dembele

Ousmane DembeleOusmane Dembele (left) celebrates scoring France’s winner (Francois Mori/AP)

With Antoine Griezmann and Alexandre Lacazette stood down from France’s starting line-up, all eyes were on Kylian Mbappe. He was a constant danger but it was another rampaging, rapid French forward who was the star turn at Stade de France. Dembele never let England settle, pinned them on the back foot and was on hand to win it with a fine finish late on. Another gem for Didier Deschamps to squeeze in.

Blast from the past

Kieran TrippierKieran Trippier was presented with his match shirt by former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon (Mike Egerton/PA)

Kieran Trippier became the 1,222nd player to wear the Three Lions when he was named in the starting XI. One of his predecessors at right-back, Lee Dixon, was in the stadium as a television pundit and was happy to put any north London rivalry behind him by presenting Tottenham’s Trippier with his match shirt. Southgate has been keen to reconnect with previous generations, bringing Glenn Hoddle in to mark Michael Keane’s debut and inviting Terry Butcher to mark Gary Cahill’s 50th cap.

Stat of the match

Harry KaneKane has now scored 11 times in his last five matches for club and country (Mike Egerton/PA)

Kane has now scored 11 times in his last five matches for club and country. The Premier League golden boot winner had not played under Southgate until this get together and it is not hard to see why he is so central to England’s plans. His opening goal showed hunger and awareness in the six-yard box and his calm penalty came after a period of confusion while the VAR process unfolded. An unflappable finisher with true pedigree.

Ratings

Tom Heaton Tom Heaton played the first half of England’s 3-2 defeat in France (John Walton/Empics)

France: Hugo Lloris 6, Benjamin Mendy 6, Djibril Sidibe 8, Raphael Varane 5, Samuel Umtiti 8, Paul Pogba 7, N’Golo Kante 7, Thomas Lemar 8, Ousmane Dembele 9, Kylian Mbappe 8, Olivier Giroud 7. Substitutes: Lucas Digne (for Mendy) 6, Laurent Koscielny (for Giroud) 8, Christophe Jallet (for Sidibe) 5.England: Tom Heaton 7, Kieran Trippier 6, Phil Jones 7, Gary Cahill 5, John Stones 5, Ryan Bertrand 6, Eric Dier 5, Raheem Sterling 6, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain 5, Dele Alli 6, Harry Kane 7. Substitutes: Jack Butland (for Heaton, 45) 7, Kyle Walker (for Bertrand, 45) 6, Adam Lallana (for Trippier, 76) 6, Aaron Cresswell (for Jones, 82) 6.

Who’s up next?

Malta v England (World Cup qualifier, September 1)

France v Holland (World Cup qualifier, August 31)