A SHOT FOR IRELAND! It comes in the final minute as Mandanda is forced into an excellent save from point-blank range after the ball broke incredibly kindly for Burke following a deflection!
90'
There will be three minutes added on at the end of this match, as the board goes up just as Doyle makes a smart save to deny a well-struck Griezmann effort from 20 yards.
88'
The last thing France need to spoil a near-perfect night in the capital is an injury. Hernandez is toppled over near the touchline and stays down, though it appears he is alright. With the condition of the pitch only worsening, it's a dangerous recipe for a pulled muscle. They'll be extra cautious over the final couple of minutes.
84'
It's really pouring now in the French capital as the match creeps towards the finish line. All is just about said and done, especially in terms of the scoreline. Ireland are trying to mount a late push here for relevancy, while France have just about closed up shop.
82'
B. Pavard enters the game and replaces D. Sidibé.
M. Doherty enters the game and replaces D. Williams.
Williams is replaced by Doherty for the final eight minutes.
Sidibe was absolutely exceptional tonight for the hosts, and he departs here to a standing ovation as he's replaced by Pavard.
80'
S. Williams enters the game and replaces K. Long.
Milwall midfielder Shaun Williams is brought on for his first senior cap at the age of 31. Kevin Long gives way.
79'
Pogba tries for an immediate impact as he bends an effort at goal from 25 yards, but just gets under it a bit as it drifts over the bar. The rain is coming down harder now as well, which may also be impacting proceedings a bit here.
77'
P. Pogba enters the game and replaces C. Tolisso.
O. Dembélé enters the game and replaces K. Mbappé.
Dembele is also brought on, at the expense of Mbappe.
A roar of approval from the home supporters as Pogba comes on to replace Tolisso.
76'
Granted France are one of the best sides in the world at the moment, but this showing from Ireland shows just how much work they have to do to. They've been shockingly poor tonight going forward, and it's simply been too much of an ask for their defence as a result.
Minute
Description
74'
The substitutions had disrupted the rhythm a bit, but France are back in attack now as they've upped the tempo again, obliging to the cheers from the supporters who want to see a third goal.
70'
A. Judge enters the game and replaces S. Long.
G. Burke enters the game and replaces C. O'Dowda.
Brentford's Judge comes on here for his third Ireland cap, replacing Long.
Shamrock Rovers' Burke makes his Ireland debut off the bench, replacing O'Dowda.
69'
H. Arter gets yellow.
Arter goes into the book now, the second Ireland player to see yellow tonight.
68'
WHAT A CHANCE! Mbappe turns provider now, dribbling his way through into the area, cutting to the inside and threading a ball across for Giroud, but a dreadful first touch from the striker sees the ball run behind! He has to be doing better there.
66'
OFFSIDE! Mbappe has been working hard for his goal tonight and appears to find it here after rounding the keeper and slotting home, but he was offside when that ball was played into him!
64'
A. Griezmann enters the game and replaces N. Fekir.
P. Kimpembe enters the game and replaces S. Umtiti.
And Griezmann is the third new face to enter off the bench, in place of Fekir.
Kimpembe is also brought on, at the expense of Umtiti.
63'
L. Hernández enters the game and replaces B. Mendy.
Wholesale changes here for France. Their first substitution of the night sees Hernandez replace Mendy.
59'
D. Meyler enters the game and replaces J. Walters.
H. Arter enters the game and replaces A. Browne.
Arter replaces Browne with the first switch of the night for the visitors.
Meyler also enters the fray, replacing Walters.
58'
Substitutions will do little to help Ireland's impact going forward. What they need is a change in approach. Their wingers are being forced do drop so deep to try and contain the likes of Sidibe and Mendy, that Long has been unbelievably isolated up top. There's been no joy for them.
56'
France continue to ask all the questions, dominating possession. This is purely something off the training ground - the perfect attack practice in preparation for the World Cup. Ireland have yet to call Mandanda into action.
54'
Plenty of substitutes warming up for both sides now as both managers ponder some changes. We're likely to see a number of subs make appearances over the course of the second half, which often tends to disrupt the tempo of these friendly matches.
50'
WHAT A SAVE! Stunning piece of goalkeeping from Doyle, who reacts brilliantly to stick a hand out to parry Giroud's effort, following a lovely turn and shot from the Chelsea striker!
48'
Ouch! France pick up where they left off, on the front foot, but play comes to a halt after Matuidi catches a boot to the chest from Walters. That certainly looked a painful one for the Juventus midfielder, though he seems keen to shake it off and play on.
46'
Back underway at the Stade de France! No changes to speak of over the interval.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: FRANCE 2-0 IRELAND.
45'
There will be just one minute added on at the end of this first half.
43'
N. Fekir has scored a goal for France! Assist by K. Mbappé.
Mbappe provides the assist.
A HOWLER FROM DOYLE! Yikes! The football world has seen its fair share of goalkeeping howlers of late, and this isn't any different. Fekir hammers a strike at goal from 15 yards, virtually straight at Doyle, who punches it high into the air before bouncing behind him and crossing the line! It's a second international goal for the Lyon attacker!
40'
O. Giroud has scored a goal for France!
AT LAST, FRANCE BREAK THROUGH! Giroud rises to meet a cross in from the right and forces Doyle into an excellent save, but the keeper can do nothing to keep out the striker's follow-up, as he scoops up the rebound to break the deadlock!
37'
OFF THE POST! Sidibe again the architect, skipping beyond two Ireland defenders quite brilliantly before teeing up Tolisso, who sends his first-time effort crashing off the post! The Bayern midfielder is still looking for his first France goal and he almost found it there.
35'
Williams makes an exceptional challenge to thwart a very threatening France attack, and that's quickly followed up by a pitch invader. Someone has managed to evade security, running onto the playing surface and travelling a fair distance before finally being taken down by a security officer.
31'
CLOSE! Sidibe remains incredibly lively for France, providing no shortage of attacking contributions, as he picks out another terrific cross here to find the head of Giroud, but the striker's glancing header misses narrowly at the far post!
30'
BIG SAVE! Crucial reactions from Doyle who does very well to get down at his near post to deny Mbappe following a lovely bit of trickery from the PSG attacker!
27'
If you can believe it, France have had 85 per cent possession through the opening 27 minutes, and that number is only threatening to climb as another wonderfully worked move down that left flank results in a corner for the hosts.
25'
Blistering strike! Mendy stings the palms of Doyle from 25 yards as he unloads a decent effort at goal, though it was too close to the keeper who doesn't have to struggle to parry. France continue to knock on the door here...
23'
INCHES WIDE! After much deliberation between Mbappe, Fekir and Sidibe, it is Fekir who takes with that lethal left foot of his. He's able to get it up and over the wall, and the dip is there too, but the accuracy is just off as it drifts agonisingly beyond the near post!
21'
J. McClean gets yellow.
Yikes! That's a horribly timed challenge from McClean, who sweeps the legs of Matuidi out from under him, right on the edge of the Ireland penalty area. It's yellow for the winger, and a glorious opportunity awaits France here with the resulting set-piece...
17'
Mbappe has a nose for goals tonight. Giroud produces a lovely back-heel pass to tee up the attacker from 20 yards, but Mbappe lashes his off-balance strike wildly over the bar. He would have been better off trying to play Fekir through - the Lyon striker making an encouraging run there off the ball.
15'
France's attacking output has fizzled out a bit here as the match transitions into more of a cagey spell. The hosts aren't playing with the same sort of energy which they possessed at kick-off, instead adopting more of a patient approach in possession.
13'
Finally a bit of respite as Ireland get the ball forward, but it's short-lived as Williams opts to try an incredibly audacious effort at goal from over 40 yards. It was actually decently struck, but it had to be perfect to beat Mandanda and was far from it. How about that confidence though from the debutante?
11'
Ireland desperately need to find a way to keep the ball when France's attacks fizzle out. The visitors have been incredibly generous in giving the ball straight back to the hosts after getting in possession, and they've not enjoyed these opening 11 minutes one bit as a result.
9'
One-way traffic thus far in the capital as France apply relentless pressure and keep Ireland hemmed in at the back. A legitimate penalty shout for handball is waved away, as Sidibe's cross is blocked from getting through.
5'
Great intent on display from France in these opening stages. They've come out focused, something that many sides fail to do in a friendly setting. With the World Cup a little over two weeks away, they have their eyes on the prize.
3'
Almost the perfect start for the hosts! Sidibe does well to win the ball in midfield and lead the charge forward, before picking out Mbappe. The PSG attacker wastes no time trying to bend an effort in at the far post, but his strike is just off the mark!
1'
AND THEY'RE OFF! France in blue tops as they get the match underway, with Ireland in their white away strip.
Hello and welcome to live coverage of this friendly match as France begin their preparations for the World Cup when they welcome the Republic of Ireland to the Stade de France!
France are right up there with the likes of Brazil, Germany and Spain as favourites to claim glory this summer in Russia, and this is the first of three friendlies they will play in the next 13 days in preparation for their Group C opener on June 16 against Australia.
Didier Deschamps has already finalised his 23-man squad that will be travelling to Russia next month, but there are likely a number of spots in the starting XI still up for grabs, so players will need to seize the opportunity against Ireland, Italy and USA.
Martin O’Neill’s side will be watching this summer’s World Cup from the comfort of their living rooms after being humbled 5-1 by Denmark in their play-off second leg at the Aviva Stadium – a result that has Ireland still reeling.
There is a bit of added motivation for Ireland tonight as well, as they return to the Stade de France for the first time since Thierry Henry’s handball that sent France through the play-off and knocked Ireland out of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
CONFIRMED TEAM NEWS:
FRANCE (4-3-3): Steve Mandanda; Djibril Sidibe, Adil Rami, Samuel Umtiti, Benjamin Mendy; Corentin Tolisso, Steven N'Zonzi, Blaise Matuidi; Kylian Mbappe, Nabil Fekir, Olivier Giroud.
SUBS: Hugo Lloris, Benjamin Pavard, Presnel Kimpembe, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Ousmane Dembele, N'Golo Kante, Florian Thauvin, Lucas Hernandez, Alphonse Areola.
IRELAND (4-3-3): Colin Doyle; Seamus Coleman, Kevin Long, Shane Duffy, Derrick Williams; Alan Browne, Declan Rice, Callum O'Dowda; Jonathan Walters, James McClean, Shane Long.
SUBS: Conor O'Malley, Shane Supple, Matt Doherty, Alan Judge, Greg Cunningham, John Egan, Darragh Lenihan, Daryl Horgan, David Meyler, Enda Stevens, Harry Arter, Graham Burke, Shaun Williams.
Deschamps has opted to give starts to those likely competing for the remaining spots in the starting XI, as he rests a few of his key players like Griezmann, Kante, Lloris and Pogba. Tolisso, N'Zonzi and Matuidi form the midfield trio, while Giroud is tasked with leading the line, flanked by Mbappe and Fekir, with Dembele also on the bench. Rami and Umtiti start in the centre of defence with Varane yet to join the team following Real Madrid's Champions League success.
O'Neill has handed a debut to Blackburn full-back Derrick Williams, who joins the Premier League trio of Coleman, Long and Duffy in defence. At just 23, O'Dowda is the most capped member of the midfield tonight, making his ninth, and is joined by Preston's Browne (third) and West Ham's Rice (second). There is no shortage of experience up top, however, as Long, McClean and Walters get the start - the trio all with at least 50 caps to their name.
Ireland somehow held firm despite mounds of France pressure, but the hosts' persistence finally paid off late in the first half as Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir send them into the break with a comfortable - and deserved - lead. It's been one-way traffic through 45 minutes at the Stade de France.
France begin their preparations for the World Cup with as close to a flawless performance as Didier Deschamps could have hoped for. Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir provided the goals in what was really a flattering scoreline for Ireland, who managed less than 25 per cent possession and didn't register a shot on target until the 93rd minute.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
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