Holland 0-1 France: Paul Pogba thunderbolt fires Didier Deschamps' side to narrow win in Amsterdam

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Paul Pogba's venomous 30-yard strike was enough for France to record a slender 1-0 victory over Holland in Amsterdam.

The £100million midfielder lashed France in front after 30 minutes, picking the ball up from Dimitri Payet before unleashing a swerving shot which Maarten Stekelenburg couldn't keep out.

Vincent Janssen felt he could have won a penalty in the first-half when his shot flicked off the hand of Laurent Koscielny, but in a second period short on clear openings, Memphis Depay was denied spectacularly from point-blank range by Hugo Lloris late on. 

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba struck the winning goal from range in the first-half

Everton goalkeeper Stekelenburg slumps to the ground after failing to keep out the shot

France celebrate taking the lead against Holland in the World Cup group game in Amsterdam

Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen protests after his shot struck Laurent Koscielny's hand

Antoine Griezmann was guilty on occasion of not putting the game to bed in the second-half

Memphis Depay tries to wriggle free of several France defenders after coming off the bench

Holland are now three points off the group leaders after the 1-0 reverse against France

The victory at the Amsterdam Arena elevated the Euro 2016 runners-up to overwhelming favourites to finish top of Group A and qualify for the finals in Russia in 2018.

France lead on seven points along with Sweden, who won 3-0 against Bulgaria, while Holland are third on four points.

Although each country still has seven matches left, France's win over the team expected to be their toughest opposition in the section hands Didier Deschamps' side a huge advantage.

Pogba hit his shot from midway between the halfway line and the edge of the Dutch penalty area and it swerved wickedly to outfox goalkeeper Stekelenburg, who might have done better with his diving effort as he tried to save it.

Holland made vociferous claims for a penalty four minutes before half-time when the ball struck Koscielny's arm as he dived to block Vincent Janssen's close-range shot but Slovenian referee Damir Skomina turned down the Dutch appeals.

Dimitri Payet was involved in the winner and caused the Dutch defence problems throughout

Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny was a rock at the heart of the France defence on Monday

Layvin Kurzawa (right) vies with Davy Klaassen during the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifier

In truth, France should have won by a more comfortably margin on a night when Holland showed some decent flashes but lacked a cutting edge.

Stekelenburg, playing only his second international in four years, denied Kevin Gameiro in the opening 15 minutes and again shortly after the interval. The rebound from the second effort fell favourably for Antoine Griezmann who put his effort wide. 

Griezmann was guilty of choosing the wrong options at times, Pogba had a close-range header from Payet's corner saved by Stekelenburg, while full-back Layvin Kurzawa dragged a shot wide with 24 minutes remaining.

Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp will be sweating over the fitness of Georginio Wijnaldum ahead of next Monday's Premier League clash with Manchester United after the midfielder hobbled off on the hour-mark with a hamstring injury. 

Virgil van Dijk is eased off the ball by a combination of Raphael Varane and Moussa Sissoko

Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum was replaced and Holland didn't have a plan B

Pogba took aim from fully 30 yards and Maarten Stekelenburg failed to palm the shot to safety

Pogba is mobbed by his team-mates after putting France in the lead with a trademark strike

Manchester United winger Anthony Martial came on as a second-half substitute for France

Holland had already been forced into a change by that stage, with Depay entering the fray as early as the 16th minute for the injured Quincy Promes, and the forgotten man of Jose Mourinho's United squad very nearly earned a point for the hosts in the dying minutes.

The winger shot first time following Tottenham striker Vincent Janssen's knockdown, but Lloris was in the right place to make a stunning one-handed save, leaving Holland with plenty of work to do to qualify from the group.

'They had more quality than us but we didn't give away too many chances, only a long range shot went it,' said Dutch captain Kevin Strootman. 'That made it more difficult but I think we missed just a little finesse in our final attack.' 

France next host Sweden on November 11 while Holland visit Luxembourg two days later. 

Moussa Sissoko produced a typically powerful display after being given the nod in midfield

Memphis Depay came on in the 16th minute and he was guilty of missing Holland's late chance

Hugo Lloris (second left) was equal to Depay's effort as the visitors took all three points

Pogba has a word with his United team-mate Depay at the full-time whistle in Amsterdam