World Cup
France defeated Brazil, 2-1, in a friendly match before a crowd of 66,215 Thursday, less than three months before the World Cup kickoff.
Superstar Kylian Mbappé (left) and Michael Olise celebrate France’s second goal during Thursday’s 2-1 friendly victory over Brazil in front of a packed house at Gillette Stadium. Lane Turner/Globe Staff
FOXBOROUGH — Entertainment licenses and funding problems, long forgotten. The Gillette Stadium playing surface, good for now. Nearly everything passed the test as France defeated Brazil, 2-1, in a friendly match before a crowd of 66,215 Thursday, less than three months before the World Cup kickoff.
Well, almost everything.
France coach Didier Deschamps said the team cut its arrival close, due to — surprise, surprise — traffic backups. And, he added, he’s worried about uncomfortably high temperatures this summer.
“The most difficult thing is the traffic,” Deschamps said. “To get to the stadium, we got there one hour, 15 minutes before the start. It’s not easy. And the temperatures are going to be high. But there’s always one word — adapt.”
Deschamps could’ve complained to Governor Maura Healey, a pregame honorary captain along with Celtics star Jayson Tatum, but he will have to get used to it. Les Bleus will be based in Boston in June, commuting to practices at Babson. And Deschamps sounds like he will fit right in when he steps out of his Boylston Street hotel, complaining about the traffic and the weather.
As for the match, Deschamps seemed pleased.
Brazilian fans were out in force Thursday at Gillette Stadium. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Les Bleus mostly dominated, as Kylian Mbappé (32d minute) and Hugo Ekitiké (65th) scored on counterattacks, chipping Brazil goalkeeper Ederson, and then held on despite playing shorthanded after the 55th minute. They played their way out of Brazil’s high-pressing tactics, keyed by Vinicius Júnior, who spent as much time in futile pursuit of the ball in France’s end as he did creating on the left wing.
The Brazilians, though, struggled to capitalize on their numerical advantage, cutting the deficit as Bremer finished a 78th-minute free kick.
Though Boston will be France’s home for the World Cup, this is still a Brazilian stronghold. Gold-shirted Brazilian supporters filled the stands, chanting for the country’s all-time leading scorer, Neymar Jr., who was left off the team by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Ancelotti said he would not talk about players who were not in the team, but noted: “When you lose, you’re not content. But the team was competitive. It’s clear to me we can compete against the best teams in the world, no doubt about it.
“We will go to the World Cup with all our energy. Obviously, France is going to compete for the World Cup. There’s a lot of quality. They’ve been playing together for a long time, so they’re going to compete.”
Not exactly what Brazil supporters want to hear. They’ve captured five World Cups but haven’t made the final since 2002, and would probably prefer to be told they have a chance to win it. They also haven’t defeated France when it counts — in the World Cup — since 1958.
“Really good stadium. We could play some really good for futbol,” Ancelotti said. “Good pitch, lots of Brazilian supporters. Everything was good, apart from the result.”
Meanwhile, Mbappé answered questions about his health, going strong for 65 minutes. On Wednesday, Mbappé also cleared up a controversy, denying that an MRI done by Real Madrid on his (healthy) right knee had been taken instead of his (injured) left knee, as a media report noted.
French star Kylian Mbappé waves to the adoring Gillette Stadium crowd. – Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
“For us, it’s an amazing opportunity to be here, not only about football, but about culture, also,” Mbappé said. “For many of us, it’s the first time in Boston. We know nothing about Boston, so it’s an opportunity to know a new culture, a new city, a new people, something we’re going to like, maybe something we’re not going to like.
“For everyone in America to watch this type of game before the World Cup, that gives you a first taste, or first idea, of what we’re going to do this summer. We hope we’re going to give the best show to the fans. It’s important for this World Cup and for us as players and everybody in the football community to show that it’s a wonderful sport and, to American people, to know us better and know better about football. And to not call it soccer anymore.”
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