France return to top of Group A

France have returned to the top of their 2018 World Cup qualification group courtesy of a 1-0 win over Bulgaria on yesterday night.

Didier Deschamps's side entered the Group A clash two points behind leaders Sweden, but Les Bleus have now returned to the summit with just one match to play courtesy of a narrow victory in Sofia.

France took the lead inside the opening three minutes, with Blaise Matuidi finding the top corner from an acute angle after Antoine Griezmann's deft touch set up a shooting chance for the Juventus midfielder.

Bulgaria looked to hit back moments later when the ball fell for Todor Nedelev in an advanced area, but the midfielder's effort was always moving wide of the post.

Kylian Mbappe was next to come close for the visitors after breaking into the Bulgaria box, but the 18-year-old could not find a route past Plamen Iliev, who was on hand to make a smart save.

Corentin Tolisso then sent one wide from distance in the 20th minute, before Griezmann curled the ball just past the far post six minutes later after being afforded all sorts of room inside the Bulgarian box.

Lacazette should have doubled France's lead just before the 30minute mark after being found inside the Bulgarian box by Mbappe, but the Arsenal for- ward was denied by a brilliant challenge from Vasil Bozhikov.

France lost N'Golo Kante to a hamstring problem in the latter stages of the first period as Adrien Rabiot entered the field, and Bulgaria should have been level in the 36th minute when Hugo Lloris made a meal of a strike from Simeon Slavchev, but the Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper somehow kept out a close-range header from Georgi Kostadinov.

Mbappe had the final chance of the first period after meeting a deflected free kick from Griez- mann, but the Paris Saint-Germain attacker missed at the near post once again.

Spas Delev had the first halfchance of the second period after finding space outside the France box, but the striker curled his effort wide of the far post.

There was a distinct lack of quality in the 15-minute spell that followed, with both teams struggling to keep the ball.

The referee had to step in on a number of occasions to stop tensions boiling over, but chances were few and far between as the key Group A clash headed for its final 10 minutes at 1-0 France.

Dimitri Payet and Olivier Giroud came off the France bench in the latter stages, and the added experience came in handy as Deschamps's side held strong in the final moments to record a huge three points in Sofia.

France will host Belarus on Tuesday knowing that a win would secure their spot at the 2018 World Cup. Bulgaria, meanwhile, will round off their qualification campaign with a trip to Luxembourg on the same night.

Cristiano Ronaldo comes off the bench to rescue Portugal against Andorra

Portugal have kept their hopes of qualifying automatically for next summer's World Cup alive courtesy of a narrow 2-0 win over Andorra yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo was left on the bench for the visitors in preparation for Tuesday's crucial showdown with group leaders Switzerland, but after a goalless first half the talisman came on and spared Portugal's blushes with the opening goal of the game.

Andre Silva then added a late second for the visitors to give Fernando Santos's side a result which takes them into Tuesday's showdown with Switzerland knowing that victory would see them clinch top spot in Group B, but anything less than a win would consign them to the playoffs.

Switzerland, who remain perfect with nine wins from nine, wasted no time in building a lead against Hungary during their match, but things were slower to get going for Portugal and it wasn't until shortly before the half-hour mark that they threatened for the first time against Andorra.

The goal saw Ronaldo equal Robert Lewandowski's all-time record of 15 in a single World Cup qualifying campaign, five of which had come against Andorra following his four-goal show in the reverse fixture.