Serbia vs. France: Score, Report and Post-Match Reaction

Paul Pogba and Aleksandar Kolarov scored the goals as France and Serbia played to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly Sunday evening in Belgrade.

Pogba tapped in at the back post following a 13th-minute corner to put France ahead, but Kolarov leveled for the hosts with a powerful drive following a well-worked set piece in the 80th minute.

The match served as a tuneup for Serbia heading into Euro 2016 qualifying, which commenced this weekend elsewhere on the continent. After failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup, Serbia will hope to improve their fortunes under veteran manager Dick Advocaat. The Dutchman took control of the team for the first time Sunday, with Serbia's qualification campaign set to begin Oct. 11 at Armenia.

France, meanwhile, qualified automatically for Euro 2016 as hosts. Didier Deschamps' side will play Portugal in a friendly on Oct. 11.

France started at a leisurely pace, building attacks patiently as Serbia sat back and waited for chances to counter. The visitors had a half-chance in the fifth minute as Jeremy Mathieu curled a shot over the bar. Four minutes later, Loic Remy dragged a low effort wide after Serbia failed to clear a cross.

After the two early warning shots, France went ahead in the 13th minute, taking advantage of the hosts' poor defending on a set piece. Cabella whipped in a corner toward the near post, where Moussa Sissoko attempted to head the ball on. Replays suggested Sissoko did not make contact, but the ball bounced straight to the back post for Pogba, who slammed in for a 1-0 lead.

Serbia responded by creating a pair of chances in quick succession. First, Matija Nastasic headed straight at France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris in the 21st minute. Three minutes later, Zoran Tosic shot over the bar after combining well with Dusan Tadic along the edge of the box.

The hosts came close again in the 41st minute as Branislav Ivanovic powered a header onto the crossbar from a Tosic free-kick, but the referee had already whistled for a foul on the Chelsea defender.

Tadic came close twice in quick succession as Serbia raised the pressure just before half-time. In the 44th minute, the Southampton midfielder had a shot deflected narrowly off target. Moments later, he missed the target with a low drive from the edge of the box after France failed to clear the ensuing corner.

After carrying the one-goal lead into the break, France nearly doubled their advantage soon after the restart. After chasing down a long ball from Pogba, Loic Remy held up the ball long enough for Remy Cabella to run on and blast a first-time shot on target. The ball seemed destined for the back of the net, but Serbia goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic produced a fine reaction save to keep it out.

The chances kept coming for both teams as the second half wore on. In the 52nd minute, France defender Raphael Varane made a crucial block to stop an Ivanovic shot at the near post. Then, in the 57th minute, Serbia goalkeeper palmed away Pogba's powerful effort before saving from Remy on the rebound.

Karim Benzema and Alexandre Lacazette replaced Remy and Cabella on the hour mark as Deschamps moved to freshen France's attack. Serbia, still in search of an equaliser, brought on Zdravko Kuzmanovic and Filip Djuricic for Nemanja Gudelj and Tadic.

Serbia came close again in the 63rd minute as Lazar Markovic laid off in the box for Kolarov. Kolarov directed a low, left-footed drive on target that momentarily appeared to beat Lloris, but the France goalkeeper saved with an improvised combination of leg and trailing left arm to keep his side ahead.

Kolarov tried his luck again in the 67th minute, curling a powerful free-kick on target with his favoured left foot. This time, Lloris made a top-notch save at full stretch to deny the Serbian defender a second time.

Serbia and Kolarov would not be denied much longer, though. In the 80th minute, the hosts leveled via a fine set piece. Ivanovic set up the goal, using the bottom of his foot to roll the dead ball into Kolarov's path. Kolarov ran on and rifled an unstoppable shot around the wall and past Lloris for the equaliser.

Both teams pushed for the winner in the closing moments. Ivanovic headed a corner on target in the 87th minute, but Lloris pushed the ball onto the post before France cleared the danger. At the other end, substitute Mathieu Valbuena had a shot from the edge of the box blocked. After three exciting minutes of stoppage time, however, both sides had to settle for the draw.

Post-Match Reaction

To follow…