It took until the 72nd minute, but a goal by Loic Remy finally broke the deadlock as France topped the United States in a friendly at Stade de France on Friday. Frankly, the U.S. should be thankful it wasn't three or four goals for Les Bleus or that there is no way to give a team negative goals for complete incompetence in the attacking third. In the end though, Remy's goal was it and it was enough for France to win 1-0 in Paris.

The best chance that the U.S. had all match was a hopeful penalty appeal when Jozy Altidore went down in the box in the first half, but the referee correctly waved it off. Meanwhile, Jeremy Menez got a good opportunity for France, only to put it over the bar. Karim Benzema got an opportunity too, but Tim Howard was there to make the save and the two teams went to halftime without a goal.

Coming out in the second half, the French looked possessed. Benzema hit the crossbar and a slew of last second blocks by U.S. defenders were all that kept France from scoring. Then Howard was called on again, making a brilliant save on a free kick to keep the U.S. level.

Howard couldn't do anything about Remy's goal though. Not long after coming on, Remy chased down a long ball over the top of the U.S. defense and in alone on Howard, blasted the ball into the net. The frustrated crowd at the Stade de France erupted as France got the goal they most definitely deserved.

With the U.S. unable to create much at all in the attacking third, an equalizer was always unlikely. They just had no ability whatsoever to build through the midfield and turn it into chances, instead leaving Altidore or Clint Dempsey on an island to work alone. Eventually, the referee blew for fulltime and it was over as France earned the victory.