France opened their 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Finland in Helsinki.

Abou Diaby, winning his first cap since June 2011, scored the only goal on 20 minutes after a bright start from the visitors, collecting Karim Benzema's lay-off following the striker's jinking run and slotting past Lukas Hradecky. From then on Les Bleus sat back, increasingly so as the second half wore on, hanging on for victory

Half-chances came and went for both sides after Diaby's goal and Didier Deschamps had cause of contentment going into the break. Any joy was quickly replaced by frustration, though, as France allowed Finland to battle back in the second period. Kasper Hämäläinen and Teemu Pukki had good opportunities, although ultimately neither managed to take them.

The hosts kept searching for an equaliser and came close to getting it ten minutes from time. Alexei Eremenko did well to pick out Tim Sparv in the area, but Hugo Lloris managed to keep out the header and deny the midfielder his second international goal. France clung on for the points.