Good evening everyone and thanks for joining us for our live coverage as France take on Paraguay at the Allianz Riviera this evening. Les Bleus are looking to prepare for the World Cup in Brazil by playing against a South American side, as Didier Deschamps plots his starting XI for this month's tournament.

France fans won't get a chance to see all of their star players in action however, as Franck Ribery is thought to be out of the side with a neck injury. The Bayern Munich winger recently missed out on France's emphatic win over Norway, though Deschamps has declared that he will be fit to play when the World Cup begins.

Other players thought to be missing tonight include Real Madrid duo Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane, who have both taken part in an extensive domestic and European campaign with their club, which only finished last weekend.

France boss Deschamps has been quick to highlight the importance of these friendlies, while also highligthing that his main objective is to get all of his players fit and available for their opening World Cup fixture:

"Our goal is to have everyone ready for the last preparation match against Jamaica next Sunday."

"Look at the other national teams: [Cristiano] Ronaldo was missing, I saw Spain yesterday and they had many players who did not feature," the former Juventus coach stated. I remind you that the goal is to have everyone fit on June 15."

France will open their tournament with a fixture against Honduras on June 15. Olivier Giroud is pushing to stake a claim in the starting XI, having bagged two impressive goals against Norway recently. Here's what he had to say to the press following the game:

"At the World Cup, everyone will be needed. When I am called upon, I try to make the most of my chance and do the job.

"It's always good to win, including in friendlies. It's good for morale. Tonight, I really want to highlight the team effort. It was really good. Still, we'll stay measured, we still have to pass tests."

France starting XI: Lloris; Koscielny, Evra, Sakho, Sagna, Valbuena, Pogba, Matuidi, Cabaye, Remy, Giroud

Paraguay starting XI: Silva; Ortiz, Samudio, Coronel, Cardozo, Alonso, Caceres, Oscar Romero, Mendieta, Oviedo, Santa Cruz

So tonight's hosts have made three changes as they prepare for Brazil. Hugo Lloris comes in for Stephane Ruffier, Bakary Sagna replaces Mathieu Debuchy and Loic Remy is given the nod over Antoine Griezmann in attack. Interestingly enough, Giroud has maintained his place - could this be a signal for what the team could be like on the 15th?

It looks as though France will play with a 4-4-2 formation, with Remy and Giroud leading the line. They'll be given creative support from Paul Pogba in midfield, with Blaise Matuidi looking to anchor proceedings in the middle of the park.

The teams are out at the Allianz Riviera now as we await kickoff. France are playing in their home blue home strip, however Paraguay will get things underway in red and white stripes.

Some nice movement from hosts early on as Cabaye looks to pull the strings in a strong blue midfield. France are ticking things over nicely with some slick passing in the centre of the pitch.

CLOSE! Paraquay come forward for the first time in the game and they nearly make something of it, with Romero whipping in a cross aimed at Santa Cruz. However, Sagna does extremely well to get across and see the ball away for a corner.

The ball is then scrambled down to the other end and for some unbeknown reason Silva comes tearing off his line, though France can't make the most of it as the cut back doesn't find Giroud, who stands waiting with arms aloft in the box.

CLOSE! Some lovely play between Valbuena and Matuidi sees the pair exchange a one-two, leaving the creative midfielder to spin in behind the defence. It looks as though he's about to pull the trigger, but Ortiz comes across to clear for a corner kick.

France are starting to look a little more creative now, with both full-backs looking to get forward too. Remy's presence on the left is also giving the Paraguay defence something to think about when the ball is played forward down the wing.

Sagna makes a good run down the right, he cuts the ball back for Giroud, who tries a neat flick to play in the advancing Pogba, but the defender makes a good decision and intercepts the pass. The visitors fail to clear their lines though, leaving Remy to fire wide from the left side of the box. He should have done a little better than that, reallly...

Juventus midfielder Pogba is looking the part already in this encounter, he's really pushing the game forward when he's given space in the centre of the pitch. Paraguay will want to be mindful of how much room they allow him to have.

Evra shows some of his swashbuckling attacking play with a foray down the left, he escapes two challenges before drawing a foul. From the resulting free kick Valbuena whips in a delivery which is just a little too high and evades the keeper's crossbar. Poor to be honest, given that he had seven men in the box waiting for him.

It's been all France thus far. Whenever Paraguay win the ball it gets pumped forward and Sakho takes care of it with his physical presence.

Giroud is given a yellow card for arguing with the officials, but seconds later he shows his class by providing the perfect knock-down for Remy, who can only blast his effort over the bar having come under pressure from the Paraguay defence.

CLOSE! A series of flicks from Pogba and Matuidi see the ball find its way through to Giroud, who is wrestling with a defender in the box. The Frenchman gets the better of his marker and manages to roll his shoulder and fire a shot off on goal. However, Cardozo recovers well to get an important block in.

Paraguay are still trying to find their feet. Their second foray forward sees Mendieta brought down and we're waiting for him to get back to his feet. The visitors need to get a bit more of a grip here and play a few passes around. It's been a bit route one so far...

Some neat footwork from Pogba sees the midfielder find Remy out on the flank. The QPR man cuts inside and fires off a shot, which tamely trickles past the keeper's near post. A real poor effort given the position he found himself in. Pogba looks a little miffed too.

It's taken half an hour but we've just seen a Mexican wave go up around the Allianz Riviera. That's not to pay disrespect to the game, though, with France dictating the play with some intricate moves. It's in the final third where their accuracy has let them down.

Paraguay will know not to give him too much space in range of goal, but they do this time and Pogba obliges with a rifled effort, which flies a few inches wide of the post having made its way along 25 yards of grass.

Real skill from France as Giroud brings the ball down with class, he provides a cross for Remy on the turn, who connects with an acrobatic bicycle kick that rises just a little too high over the bar. It's getting closer for the hosts.

We're now waiting on another stoppage as Mendieta undergoes treatment following a heft challenge from Patrice Evra. He's gone down a little too easily sometimes this evening, but this one looks more serious.

CLOSE! Somehow France fail to score. Valbuena turns in a smart delivery from a free kick, with three French players beating the offside trap inside the box. Somehow they all manage to miss with a connection, allowing the ball to scramble through into the arms of the welcoming Silva.

Looking forward, Giroud has really impressed already. He's shown great skill to bring the ball down, with strength being shown in equal share in order to hold up the ball.

ALMOST! Paraguay fail to clear their lines and the ball finds its way out to Matuidi who is blazing into the box at the back post. He gets there first and meets the ball with a shot, which flashes across the face of goal and narrowly goes the wrong side of the far post. He's missed by inches.

Well, well, well take a bow Sakho. The French centre-back produces a fine sliding tackle to deny Oviedo, who originally beats his marker with a smart turn and is bearing down on goal. It could have been 1-0 had it not been for that piece of defensive brilliance.

We're going to have three minutes of additional time added to the first half as rain continues to fall in Nice.

France look to take the lead before the break and its Matuidi who is the driving force, he bursts forward down the left and tries to cross for Giroud, who just can't get enough on the ball as it trickles back into Paraguay's possession.

For a friendly, that was rather entertaining first half of football. France have been the dominant side and should probably be ahead. Giroud has had a good chance, as have Matuidi and Remy. Pogba has looked promising in midfield, but Les Bleus will be seeking a bit more accuracy when going forward in the second half.

Tonight's visitors really haven't shown us much so far. They've been restricted by France's quick pressing, with Evra and Sagna also pegging their wingers back by pushing forward when possible. This has left plenty of room for Pogba and Matuidi to take control of the midfield. Their best chance has been a piece of good skill from Oviedo, which was neutralised by some great defending from Sakho on the slide.

Remy has had a bit of an odd first half. He almost opened the scoring with a great acrobatic finish, though other than that he's worked himself into some promising spaces without being able to apply the right finish.

I'm sure we're going to get plenty of changes in the second half, though France may look to rest some of their key players who are on the bench. Ribery and Benzema are amidst the subs; I'm not sure how likely it is that they'll feature?

So will France turn their dominance into goals? Or can Paraguay throw a spanner into the works? The second half is due to commence in the next couple of minutes...

The players are now back out on the pitch in Nice, France will gets us back underway; kicking from right to left. We've also had a few changes with France bringing on Mavuba and Mangala for Cabaye and Sakho.

We're back into the action now as the players feature under a heavy downpour of rain...

CLOSE! A great pass from Matuidi sees Remy free down the left. He sends in a ball at the near post where Giroud is advancing, however the Arsenal forward gets it all wrong and heads wide into the stands.

France have started this second half with an increased intensity.

More great combination play sees Giroud cross for Valbuena at the back post. Despite his size, he beats his man but can't get the effort on target.

SAVE! The visitors cause their first real problem as they get in behind full-back Evra, France are unable to contain Paraguay and concede a free kick on the edge of the box. Samudio gets it on target, but Lloris pulls off a strong save before glaring at the hole that had appeared in his wall.

France have settled back into the same pattern of play as in the first period, with Pogba looking to move things forward.

Giroud is trying to be a bit too intricate at the moment, he's wining the knockdowns but is trying to be too deft, leaving the Paraguay defence to mop up his attempted passes.

CLOSE! Saying that, the striker meets Valbuena's ball with a lofted header, which is tipped over the crossbar. Giroud is the target again following the corner, but he can't beat Silva, who palms away his headed effort.

France substitutions: Remy is replaced by Griezmann, while Grenier comes on for Matuidi in the middle of the park.

CLOSE! Smart build-up play from Giroud see him lay it off for Valbuena, who cross into the box. The ball looks like it's headed for the feet of Pogba in the box, but there's too much pace on it and Paraguay escape the danger.

YELLOW CARD! Bacary Sagna is shown a yellow card for a poor lunge on Rohas.

France have let their intensity slip in the last five minutes, leaving Paraguay with the chance to steal a bit more possession. The hosts have passed the ball nicely, but have been unable to show the required touch to convert their chances.

CLOSE! It's another half chance for Giroud as he jumps highest to meet Evra's quick cross into the near post. If they are to take the lead, it looks as though it will be Giroud who provides, but he'll have to improve on his heading accuracy.

Les Bleus are starting to up things again now, with the home side camped around the Paraguay box. The ball is fed out wide to Griezmann who nips in behind the defence, though his drilled cross is seen away for a corner.

France substitute: Sissoko comes on to replace Valbuena in midfield.

ALMOST! The Arsenal pairing of Giroud and Sagna is causing problems for Paraguay. The French full-back is able to cross without looking up; holding his faith in the Gunners striker to make a dart into the near post. But yet again Giroud can't make the most of it and is hustled out by the defence.

Paraguay are holding their lines well at the moment and it's starting to frustrate France. The home side are trying to force things through the middle, but neither Grenier or Pogba are able to find a ball behind the back-four. It looks as though their best chance could come from a cross into the box from either of the full-backs.

The best move of the night almost sees Griezmann free to tap home following some neat play from Sissoko and Pogba, but the final ball is flagged for offside as the striker moves across the box to set himself for the finish.

CLOSE! Sissoko is the architect again as his pace beats the full-back, but his cross into the box is cleared before it reaches the advancing Griezmann.

Well, France have finally taken the lead and it's substitute Griezmann who provides the quality. The striker is left free towards the back post and wins the ball following a knock-down from a corner. He sets himself with an open body and guides a curled finish across the face of goal and into the far corner. Great work from the Real Sociedad man.

CLOSE! France fall asleep at the back and are almost brought back down to earth. It's Mangala who is to blame as he allows a ball into the box to get behind him, however Ortiz gets himself into a tangle and can't shape himself to head on goal.

YELLOW CARD! Pogba is shown a yellow card for a poor tackle on Cardozo.

And Paraguay have pulled level, but they haven't really deserved it in all honesty. From the free kick, a ball is lofted into the box, with France trying to play a line that looks a little too high. Caceres uses his intuition and gambles on the back of the defence, leaving him free to head home past Lloris when the ball beats every player in the box.

We're going to have four minutes of additional time...

CLOSE! Giroud tries to cap things off with an effort from distance, leaving the ball to loop above the goalkeeper who finds himself on the floor trying to waste a little time and earn his side a draw.

There we have it, then... The game ends in a draw. I don't think it's a fair result, with France probably doing enough to win the game in all honesty. However, they paid the price for not being clinical enough and showing a little defensive naivety in the dying moments of the game. Thanks for joining us tonight and we'll no doubt see you again as we build up towards the World Cup in Brazil.