France secured their passage out of the group stages with a second-successive World Cup 2018 win over Peru on Thursday night.

Les Bleus had much the better of the first period but were pushed hard by the South American side in the second-half of the contest at Ekaterinburg Arena.

France sit atop of Group F with one game left to play.

Here, we rate Didier Deschamps’ men following their second World Cup 2018 match.

Giroud selection pays dividends for Deschamps

The inclusion of the powerful Chelsea centre forward from the start provided France with a real focal point, bringing balance and structure.

Dropping Ousmane Dembele in place of the 31-year-old proved to be a shrewd mood for Les Bleus as Giroud’s 34th minute shot deflected into the path of Kylian Mbappe for the Paris Saint-Germain forward to poke home into an empty net.

France looked devoid of any real kind of fluency in their turgid opening clash with Australi,a but having Giroud as the centre piece of the jigsaw on Thursday night was inspired.

His threat down the middle gave license for Mbappe to roam from the right and link-up to good effect, though Antoine Griezmann probably dropped too deep at times in search of space at the top of the pitch.

Giroud embraces goalscorer Mbappe.

France will come unstuck against a better side

In all due respect to Peru, Ricardo Gareca’s men didn’t quite have the punch in the final third to land a knockout blow and ultimately an equaliser back into the match.

France had far the better of the opening 45 minutes and seemed content with just a 1-0 lead, but they were fortunate one goal proved to be enough.

If Pedro Aquino Sanchez’s piledriver from distance, which had Hugo Lloris beaten all ends up, had found the back of the net, this game could well have been a different story.

Indeed, the South American side finished the game with a commanding 57 per cent of the possession stakes and only had two less shots (10) than France’s 12.

With a touch more quality, Peru would have secured a point and halted France’s progress through to the knockout phase.

Deschamps men have been warned that sterner tests will certainly come their way.

Peru have now exited the World Cup after back-to-back defeats.

Good signs for Paul Pogba

The Manchester United star is probably the most criticised footballer on the planet, but he has made three telling contributions to the France cause so far and looks well in the mood to do damage at this tournament.

His deflected winner against Australia helped Les Bleus to all three points in the opener and he played a key role in France’s winner on Thursday night.

A crunching challenge, pouncing on loose Peru possession in midfield, saw France strive forward and Giroud bare down on goal.

It may also be forgotten that Pogba supplied the pass through to Antoine Griezmann, in which France were awarded a penalty, via VAR, over Australia.

He has certainly risen to the occasion and is answering his critics.

Paul Pogba had a good game at Ekaterinburg Arena.