FIFA World Cup qualifier: Bulgaria 0-1 France

France took a huge step towards FIFA World Cup qualification with an uninspiring 1-0 victory over Bulgaria at Vasil Levski National Stadium in Sofia.

The win sends Les Bleus back to the summit of Group A and secures at the very least a play-off spot, but they go into this week's home game against Belarus knowing three points will confirm a place at Russia 2018.

The game's only goal came in just the third minute as Blaise Matuidi thumped in from close range, with Antoine Griezmann and Corentin Tolisso missing chances to extend the lead.

The only downside on a comfortable evening for Didier Deschamps was the first-half withdrawal of N'Golo Kante, who picked up a hamstring strain.

The defeat ends Bulgaria's slim hopes of grabbing a play-off berth and it will be left to rue a first-half miss from Spas Delev, which would have pulled it level on the night.

France's rich array of attacking talent wasted little time in stamping its authority on the game, combining in sublime style to open the scoring inside just three minutes. 

Lucas Digne played an incisive ball into the feet of Griezmann and the Atletico Madrid star cleverly teed up Matuidi, who powerfully slotted into the far top corner from an acute angle.

The visitors nearly scored a second after 15 minutes when Kylian Mbappe demonstrated his breathtaking speed to burst past Nikolay Bodurov, forcing Plamen Iliev into a smart save.

Tolisso then drilled a shot narrowly wide from distance before Griezmann flashed a half-volley agonisingly past Iliev's post as Deschamps' side threatened to run riot.

Bulgaria had to wait until the 36th minute for its first sight of goal and only a miraculous save from Hugo Lloris denied it a leveller.

The goalkeeper's initial fumble from Todor Nedelev's long-range shot allowed Spas Delev an unmarked header from close range, but the Tottenham Hotspur star redeemed himself in spectacular fashion to acrobatically claw away the striker's effort.

Clearly content to settle for a 1-0 win, France offered nothing in the way of attacking intent in the second half.

Its approach was best summed up with five minutes to go when substitute Olivier Giroud opted to run the ball into the corner instead of attempting a shot on goal from an inviting position.