Nicolas Cordova made France regret their profligacy as his 77th-minute equaliser earned Chile a 1-1 draw in Montpellier.

Laurent Blanc's side, still in a state of rebuilding following last year's farcical FIFA World Cup™ showing, had led through Loic Remy. However, the French wasted numerous chances to wrap up the win and were made to pay when Cordova scored with 13 minutes remaining.

"It was a good game of football," said Blanc afterwards. "There were fantastic players on show on both sides. "It would have been great to win, but Chile had chances of their own. I am satisfied with the players even if we do ask a lot of them.

"For a match right at the start of the season there was a lot of quality on show. We thought that Chile would struggle a bit more physically but they are so good at keeping the ball."

An entertaining start saw plenty of craft from both sides. Karim Benzema first fired wide from 20 yards before Chile's Luis Jimenez was similarly ambitious from even further out. 

Remy hit a 25-yard effort wide in the 12th minute before team-mate Marvin Martin continued the theme with an off-target attempt of his own.

It would have been great to win, but Chile had chances of their own.
Laurent Blanc, France coach

The opening goal came in the 20th minute as Benzema showed ambition down the left before crossing into Remy, who nodded home past Claudio Bravo.

Chile looked to respond as playmaker Jorge Valdivia fired over the bar and Arturo Vidal also smashed one over. Benzema was then denied by Bravo and Valdivia was off target yet again.

Chelsea attacker Florent Malouda burst into life in the second half, hitting a shot wide in the 54th minute and also missing two minutes later. Benzema forced a save from Bravo moments after as France opened up.

Shortly after the hour mark Remy nearly doubled the tally when he met Martin's corner, but smashed his effort against the bar. A spate of substitutions and bookings followed before Chile found the equaliser they wanted.

The introduction of talisman Alexis Sanchez from the bench was telling as he set up Cordova, who swept home the Barcelona recruit's cross from the right with aplomb.

Kevin Gameiro and Yohan Cabaye both had speculative efforts that failed to test Bravo as Chile left the match their heads held high.