Captain Harry Kane admitted England had just not been good enough after 10-man France battled back to secure a 3-2 win in Tuesday night’s worldwide friendly in Paris.
Kane stepped up and made no mistake from the penalty spot to level matters for the Three Lions.
The decision was a controversial one, coming after Federation Internationale de Football Association tweaked the rules past year to reduce cases of players being sent off for denying clear goal-scoring opportunities, unless the offence is deliberate.
But it did England no good and 12 minutes from time the French got the goal they deserved, Mbappe teeing up Dembele for the decisive score of the evening. I’m Matt Dawson, and I’ll be taking you through England’s worldwide friendly with France. “You have got to control possession and stay calm but I thought we looked more anxious [against] ten men”, said Southgate.
Deschamps said the sending off was the “disaster scenario” for France, but his team’s fantastic display meant it did not matter.
“It is always good to finish with a victory, especially after a defeat”.
After an emotionally charged tribute, which included a rendition of Oasis classic “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and an impeccably observed minute’s silence, it was England who started the brighter and took the lead with just nine minutes on the clock.
Then, English fans came together to sing the French national anthem, La Marseillaise, just four days after the attacks had occurred.
That was true at last year’s European Championship, when England won all 10 of its qualifiers but then was eliminated by Iceland in the last 16 of the tournament.
England took an early lead through Harry Kane’s wonderfully worked ninth-minute strike but could have been pegged back before Samuel Umtiti’s equaliser midway through the first half.
Twenty-two people were killed and 116 injured by a suicide bomber at an Ariana Grande concert at Manchester Arena on 22 May.
England rested Joe Hart and gave Tom Heaton and Jack Butland 45 minutes each in goal, in a game that used video refereeing – the first time England have used it.
Dembele again enjoyed the space between visitor’s midfield and defence and shimmied past Gary Cahill to see a shot saved by Heaton – once again a player in blue, this time Sidibe, reacted quickest.
England’s best players on a disappointing night were their forward, Kane scoring twice, Tottenham team-mate Dele Alli making both goals, and winger Raheem Sterling also impressive.
France handed Monaco’s highly sought after striker Kylian Mbappe just his second worldwide start, partnering Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud, while Manchester United’s Paul Pogba was joined in midfield by Chelsea title-winner N’Golo Kante.