Malta 0
France 2
A battling display from Malta U-21 could not prevent Edwin Camilleri's men from losing against a powerful French side.
The Maltese frustrated France in the first half and seemed to be growing in confidence when they were hit by Anthony Modeste's goal early in the second half before substitute Fana made the game safe for the highly-rated French.
The Group 8 leaders should have won the game by a far bigger margin, but were denied by the brilliance of Malta goalkeeper Henry Bonello as the Maltese side turned in a gutsy defensive display.
France enjoyed the majority of the possession, yet were unable to convert their dominance into scoring chances. As the first half unravelled, Bonello came to the fore.
France's David N'Gog was Malta's tormentor in chief in the first half as he twice came close to opening the deadlock.
On 17 minutes he lit up the proceedings with a mazy run, leaving the Maltese defence trailing in his wake but Modeste could not profit as when he found himself unmarked in the area, he ballooned a shot high over the bar.
On the half hour mark, the Liverpool striker went closest to opening the scoring with a superb close-range strike. But the Maltese keeper was equal to it, producing a stunning save to push the ball away.
Then, just before the break, Bonello made a good finger-tip save to divert a fierce drive from the lively Modeste.
Malta gave as good as they got with Tyrone Farrugia and Joseph Zerafa showing typical determination to chase the ball and keep the French at the bay.
France brought on Jires Ekoko Kembo for Parma's Biabiany and Erick Mombaerts's men certainly looked more threatening.
France's pressure eventually paid dividends when Modeste converted his most difficult opportunity with unerring ease as he cleverly stroked a first-time shot into the corner after 54 minutes.
On 67 minutes, Modeste almost netted a second, but his powerful header was scrambled away by Bonello.
Four minutes later, Nzonzi's close-range effort looked destined to find the net until Steve Borg threw himself to his right to clear the ball off the line.
The Maltese did not heed the warning and France doubled on 77 minutes. Bonello may well have saved substitute Karim Ait Kana's shot but was undone by the slight deflection off a defender.
Few moments later, Borg came to Malta's rescue by clearing a header off the line.
The duel between Bonello and Modeste continued in the dying minutes of the match when the Maltese keeper thwarted the Frenchman when he was through on goal.
Malta's display did not merit a goal as little was seen of Edwin Camilleri's side as an attacking force but they almost found the net when Kevin Olimpa misjudged a free-kick by Julian Galea. Luckily for the French, the ball went agonisingly out.
Malta H. Bonello, J. Zerafa, S. Borg, R. Camilleri, T. Farrugia, J. Mintoff ('56 R. Muscat), W. Chircop, G. Muscat ('78 T. Vella), D. Pisani, K. Pulo ('68 J. Galea ), G. Gribbon.
France K. Olimpa, S. Corchia, F. Tabanou, E. Capoue, M. Sakho, Y. Mvila, J. Biabiany ('39 Kembo), D. Bakar ('74 K. Ait Kana), A. Modeste, Y. Sankhare ('57 Nzonzi), D. N'Gog
Scorer Modeste 54; Ait Kana 77
Referee: H. Jones (Wales)
Yellow Cards: Mintoff, Pulo.