Ivory Coast stun France 2-1 as Amad scores late winner in Nantes

Ivory Coast claimed a 2-1 win over France in a World Cup warm-up at Nantes thanks to a late strike from Manchester United forward Amad Diallo. According to ESPN Soccer, the late goal set the tone for a match in which a much-rotated France team under Didier Deschamps struggled to find its usual rhythm.

Deschamps named a heavily changed starting eleven, resting several first-choice players to test the depth of his squad. ESPN's match report notes that the approach blurred some of France's familiar automatisms and left small but recurring gaps between the back four and midfield, particularly in transition phases.

The game opened in balance, with both sides creating controlled chances in the first half. Ivory Coast gradually applied pressure, shaping their attack around players based in Europe's top leagues. ESPN's account highlights how runs from the Ivorian wide players forced France's back line to drop deeper and surrender ground in central areas.

When France held possession, they struggled to manufacture clear-cut chances. The midfield trio favoured by Deschamps did not find the same tempo on attacking transitions. According to ESPN's match write-up, Ivory Coast's coaching staff recognised this and intensified the press, forcing France to build through long balls rather than measured progression.

Ivory Coast went ahead late in the first half. A quick transition turned into a sharp combination that pulled France's defence out of position. ESPN's analysis pointed to the consistency of Ivory Coast's pressing strategy across the match, with repeated sequences of compressing France's defensive third and forcing turnovers.

France began the second half more sharply and lifted the tempo through substitutions. Attacking players introduced by Deschamps helped engineer the equaliser, which restored parity. ESPN reports that France then invested in central midfield to take control, but they could not create chances of decisive quality despite holding more of the ball.

After the 80th minute the Ivorian attackers stepped forward again. A move down the right wing led to bodies in the box, and Amad Diallo finished a chance into the France net. ESPN notes that the young forward has built on a strong club season at Manchester United, and the late goal underlined his growing importance to the national team.

Deschamps assessed the result critically afterward. Warm-up matches are crucial for testing squad depth and reinforcing playing patterns ahead of major tournaments. ESPN reports that the head coach said the defensive composition and the midfield structure in transitions need to become clearer before the World Cup begins.

For Ivory Coast the result is being viewed as a meaningful win against a top European side in the build-up phase. ESPN's report frames the result as a confidence boost for both the African qualifying campaign and upcoming preparation matches. The squad, increasingly built around players in European clubs, is operating with rising self-belief.

With the World Cup only weeks away, the match offered different lessons for each side. For France it underlined the limits of heavy rotation and the impact of changes on rhythm. For Ivory Coast the win is a tangible sign that a generation of players gaining experience in European leagues is maturing under the national badge. The coming weeks will show how clearly each side can settle its preferred shape.