France bounced back from their miserable performance against Nigeria earlier this week to beat 10-man Turkey in Lyon tonight.

Having been booed off after a 1-0 loss in St Etienne three days ago, France were eager to put those memories to bed and did so courtesy of Karim Benzema's first-half penalty at the Stade de Gerland. While the margin of victory was narrow, France could have had many more on a night then they kept Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel busy.

Florent Malouda could have got France off to a flying start in under 90 seconds, but his right-footed shot from close range went wide of the target. Benzema was similarly wayward before Turkey began to come into the game, starting with a long-range effort by Halil Altintop that that was held by Hugo Lloris in the France goal.

Tuncay Sanli's header was also straight at the goalkeeper just before the half hour mark. Nicolas Anelka missed a great chance from close range and Turkey raced back down the other end where Arda Turan sent a shot wide from the edge of the area.

But the game then turned when Uzulmez hauled down Anelka inside the area to earn himself a red card and France a penalty. Benzema, playing on what may not be his home ground for much longer, dispatched the penalty into the right-hand corner of the goal.

France began the second half keen to add to their lead but Anelka was twice denied in quick succession with efforts from outside the area. Lloris kept out a shot from Hakan Kadir Balta, but it was the hosts who were clearly in the ascendancy with Andre Pierre Gignac forcing a save from Demirel before sending a second effort wide.

Yoann Gourcuff then had a shot blocked by Gokhan Zan and Demirel saved from Lassana Diarra as the pressure piled on. Demirel did well to deny in-demand Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery, saving with his feet, and Zan was again the man in the way as Jeremy Toulalan fired in a long-range effort.

There was no let up from the hosts as the game moved into the final 15 minutes as Ribery met Sidney Govou's cross but saw Demirel keep out the shot. Demirel then pulled off another great save to deny the substitute Govou, using his feet to keep out a shot from the edge of the area.

Govou went even closer moments later, but his shot came back off the post in the 87th minute. Demirel's feet denied Ribery from long-range and the goalkeeper then held on to Jean-Alain Boumsong's header from a corner as France had to settle for victory by a single goal.