There was a wait for kick-off due to everybody being in position early, but Azerbaijan wasted no time in scoring their first-ever goal against France.
Just four minutes into proceedings, Ceyhun Nuriyev turned away from Khephren Thuram and slid the ball through for Rahman Dashdamirov, who played it across for Ranat Dadashov to beat debutant goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier with a first-time finish.
After Khayal Aliyev had struck wide, Didier Deschamps’ completely changed side started to show signs of improvement, with Christopher Nkunku coming close.
Les Bleus’ equaliser came in the 17th minute, as a nice move culminated in Jean-Philippe Mateta rising to head in Malo Gusto’s cross with ease.
The ball went into Shakhruddin Magomedaliyev’s net again seven minutes later, but Gusto’s strike had hit Nkunku’s arm on its way in, and the goal was ruled out.
Nkunku then headed wide, but France went ahead on the half-hour mark when Gusto met Thuram’s ball with a cutback for Maghnes Akliouche to score his first international goal.
Thuram was denied a first goal of his own before the break due to a handball from Hugo Ekitike, and the midfielder then got his knee on a ball that Magomedaliyev diverted in for an own goal.
The goalkeeper had looked injured and was replaced by Aydın Bayramov, but he wasn’t worked initially with Thuram and Nkunku both firing over.
Nkunku then had an attempt blocked by Abdulakh Khaybulayev, and Mateta guided a fizzed ball from Theo Hernandez wide, before Warren Zaire-Emery’s strike was deflected wide by Behlul Mustafazade.
Ekitike made a complete mess of his attempt in Azerbaijan’s box, and Bayramov was finally worked in the 73rd minute as he stopped Thuram’s flick from a low Rayan Cherki free-kick delivery.
In truth, the sting had long gone out of the game by that point as France comfortably wrapped up their qualifying campaign with their fifth victory from six matches, while also giving an opportunity to players who will hope to make their mark in the summer of 2026.
The result leaves Azerbaijan stuck on one point at the bottom of Group D.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Malo Gusto (France)