France coach Didier Deschamps has included Karim Benzema in his side's starting lineup against Ukraine this evening.

The Real Madrid striker replaces Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud, who drops to the bench, and is flanked by Mathieu Valbuena and Franck Ribery on either side.

Laurent Koscielny is suspended for Les Bleus after being dismissed in the first leg of the World Cup qualifying playoff tie between the two sides, as Mathieu Debuchy, Raphael Varane, Mamadou Sakho and Patrice Evra make up the home nation's defence.

Meanwhile, Yaroslav Rakytskiy steps in for the suspended Olexander Kucher for Ukraine, who won the first leg 2-0 at home on Friday.

France: Lloris; Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra; Cabaye, Matuidi, Pogba, Ribery, Valbuena, Benzema

Ukraine: Pyatov; Khacheridi, Shevchuk, Mandzioek, Rakitskiy; Yarmolenko, Konoplyyanka, Rotan, Bezus, Aparesida; Zozulya

Written by
Subhankar Mondal