France have gone into the break 1-0 up against 10-man Honduras in their first game of the 2014 World Cup in Porto Alegre, thanks to a late penalty from Karim Benzema.

After a scrappy opening few minutes, the 2006 World Cup finalists were first to threaten, Antoine Griezmann slicing his shot wide after some good work from Mathieu Debuchy and Benzema.

Les Bleus continued to accrue free kicks, but any danger was successfully thwarted by the Honduran defence in the early stages.

Griezmann then struck the crossbar in the 23rd minute with a powerful header.

Controversy erupted midway through the first half when Wilson Palacios and Paul Pogba became involved in an altercation, with both lucky to escape with just bookings.

The two were to clash again as Palacios felled the young Frenchman in the box towards the end of the opening 45 minutes, prompting the referee to award Les Bleus a penalty and send the Honduran off.

Benzema proceeded to strike the penalty high to the keeper's right to put his side a goal up at the break.

Written by
Giuseppe Labellarte