France vs. Ivory Coast: Score and Twitter Reaction for 2016 Friendly

Both France and the Ivory Coast concluded their 2016 slate of games with a scoreless draw in an international friendly at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France. 

Despite the lack of goals, the contest had its moments of intrigue, with France holding 67 percent of possession, according to ESPN FC. The French finished with more shots (10-8), though Ivory Coast put more of their efforts on goal (4-3). 

Jonathan Johnson of ESPN FC didn't exactly enjoy the French display, which may have also ended with some bad news for Paris Saint-Germain:

For France, it was a more disappointing result, even without Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud starting off the bench. Still, the country had Dimitri Payet and Paul Pogba on the pitch, though neither enforced their will on the contest.

Kevin Gameiro had the game's first excellent scoring chance in the eighth minute, turning between two defenders and ripping a shot from outside of the box on his right foot. The attempt went just wide of the near post, however.

Two minutes later, it appeared the Ivory Coast had taken the lead. Adama Traore smoked a blistering shot off the far post, which bounced straight to the feet of Salomon Kalou. He calmly passed the ball into the back of the net, though the celebration was halted after Kalou was rightly called offside and the goal was disallowed.

Those were the top highlights from an entertaining first half, as both sides knocked on the door on several occasions but lacked the final pass or touch needed to finish scoring chances.

France held 62 percent of possession in the opening frame and outshot Ivory Coast 6-5, though both countries put two shots on goal. N'Golo Kante was firmly at the center of the action, per OptaJean:

France looked like the stronger side for the opening 20 minutes of the second half, though a very questionable decision from debutant goalkeeper Benoit Costil nearly cost the country.

The 'keeper headed away a dangerous ball near the edge of the box but continued to pursue it up the field. It landed at the feet of Max Gradel, who lifted a long effort toward the goal as Costil and the French defense scrambled to cover the empty net. Gradel's effort flew wide, however, and France survived.

Minutes later, the French nearly took the lead. Nabil Fekir appeared to be alone on goal, but a pass from Djibril Sidibe was sent just wide. Fekir recovered the ball and was still able to get off a shot, but he didn't have a great angle and Sylvain Gbohouo made the stress-free save.

The Ivory Coast nearly nicked the game late. A cross into the box in the 89th minute deflected to Nicolas Pepe, who hit his shot into the ground but still put the ball on frame. Costil reacted in a split second, however, brilliantly getting his left arm in front of the effort and preserving the draw.

That was the last gasp for either country, however, and the game ended in a scoreless draw.

France will return to action on March 25 in a World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg. The Ivory Coast also concluded its 2016 schedule and will next play on January 16 against Togo in the Africa Cup of Nations.

Postmatch Reaction

FRANCK FIFE/Getty Images

The French players were booed as they left the pitch on Tuesday evening. French manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged the team's disappointing performance after the match.

"We struggled, that's not what I want to remember from 2016," he told Matthew Smith of the Daily Mail. "We could have won that game but we could have lost it. We made too many errors, especially in the second half."

Ivory Coast sung a different tune, however. 

Manager Michel Dussuyer was happy with the result, as he told Mark Gleeson of BBC Sport:

"

There is satisfaction in the outcome and the content of our game. We could have grabbed a little more but I'm very happy with the match we played. We were solid, we were serious, we not only defended well but we showed we also wanted to play. We have created opportunities. France also had some opportunities. It was a good game for us.

"

Certainly, a draw against a dangerous French team should give the country confidence as it continues its quest for a Africa Cup of Nations conquest in 2017.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.