Paul Pogba's long-range strike was enough for France to record a 1-0 win over Netherlands in Monday night's 2018 World Cup qualification match.
The Manchester United midfielder found the back of the net with a rasping effort in the 30th minute as France moved onto seven points in Group A with an impressive away success.
Both managers made one change to their respective lineups, with Davy Propper replacing the injured Wesley Sneijder for Netherlands and Djibril Sidibe taking the place of Bacary Sagna for Didier Deschamps's side.
As expected, it was an all-action start to the clash in Amsterdam, but France did settle as the match gathered pace, and began to dominate possession with Pogba and Blaise Matuidi recycling the ball in central positions.
The first real opportunity of the match arrived in the 13th minute when Matuidi slipped a pass in to Kevin Gameiro, but the Atletico Madrid forward's effort was pushed away by Netherlands stopper Maarten Stekelenburg.
Netherlands did grow into the first period, however, and Virgil van Dijk should have made contact on a Memphis Depay free kick as the home side continued to enjoy more of the ball in the final third of the field.
It was France that made the breakthrough on the half-hour mark, however, when Pogba received the ball in space before firing one towards the bottom corner and it was too hot for Stekelenburg, who did not get enough on the save.
Netherlands had an opportunity to equalise in the final stages of the first period when a poor pass from Dimitri Payet presented Tottenham Hotspur forward Vincent Janssen with the ball inside the box, but Laurent Koscielny was across to make a smart block and indeed survived a handball shout in the process.
Netherlands had a decent chance to level the scores early in the second period when Janssen turned away from Raphael Varane inside the France box, but the forward could only hit the side-netting from a difficult angle.
France's first opportunity of the second half came in the 55th minute after a raking pass from Pogba released Gameiro, but Stekelenburg made a smart save and Antoine Griezmann could only fire the rebound over the crossbar from close range.
Depay was next to come close for Netherlands after Rick Karsdorp found the Manchester United attacker with a smart cross just past the hour, but the 22-year-old could only hook his effort wide of the post. Down the other end, Pogba should have scored his second of the night when he met a corner from Payet inside the six-yard box, only for Stekelenburg to make a smart stop.
Both managers made changes as the contest entered its final 20 minutes, and half-chances were present during an end-to-end period of the match, with Pogba coming close to a second goal on a couple of occasions.
Netherlands raised the tempo in the latter stages as they sought an equaliser, although clear chances, aside from a Depay effort which Hugo Lloris saved, were at a premium and it proved to be a comfortable conclusion for France, who are level on points with Sweden at the top of the section.
Next up for Netherlands is a friendly against Belgium on November 9, before they continue their Group A campaign away to Luxembourg four days later. France, meanwhile, will welcome Sweden in their next qualifier on November 11.
Matt Law
