England must learn to “manage the game” better after falling to a 3-2 friendly defeat against 10-man France, says manager Gareth Southgate.
The Three Lions had taken the lead through Harry Kane’s strike in Paris, but still lost despite Raphael Varane’s dismissal early in the second half.
England have also lost to Germany and drawn against Spain this season.
“You have got to control possession and stay calm but I thought we looked more anxious with 10 men,” said Southgate.
Tottenham striker Kane netted the opener in the ninth minute, but the French hit back through first-half goals from Samuel Umtiti and Djibril Sidibe.
On 47 minutes, Real Madrid defender Varane hauled down Dele Alli in the box and was given a straight red card, as Kane stepped up to equalise.
But they were unable to hold on as the the impressive Kylian Mbappe laid the ball on for the equally-brilliant Ousmane Dembele to drill home the winner 12 minutes from time.
“We just didn’t manage that period of the game as well as we needed to, I thought we tired,” said Southgate. “We put in a huge amount of effort and it was a problem for us with their pace and athleticism.
“I think we should have got a result. In the space of 90 minutes we saw the things we are very good at, with the ball we caused a lot of problems and looked a threat and created good openings and took our first goal very well.
“On the other hand we have to get better as a team and at managing the game, especially when they went down to 10 men.”
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