A vicious free-kick by Deng Zhuoxiang earned China a 1-0 win over France in Reunion on Friday as Les Bleus slumped to a dispiriting defeat in their last World Cup warm-up game.

France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has been one of the most vocal critics of the lightweight Jabulani ball designed for the World Cup and he was completely bamboozled by the dipping trajectory of Deng's 68th-minute strike.

The hosts largely controlled the game but did not begin to threaten until they had gone behind and they sign off their pre-tournament preparations with a win, a draw and a loss after beating Costa Rica 2-1 and tying 1-1 with Tunisia.

The 2006 runners-up travel to South Africa on Saturday and begin their World Cup campaign against Uruguay on June 11.

"I'm disappointed. Losing a match, even a friendly, even a World Cup preparation match, is never nice," said France coach Raymond Domenech.

"Now we have to analyse the match. I'm disappointed, particularly for the players and the public. But the World Cup is not today. It starts on June 11."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP