France v Wales : International Friendly tonight in Nice : Benzema returns !

Robert Page takes his squad to Nice this evening for a warm up game against France at the Allianz. Head coach of France Didier Deschamp is looking for an impressive game from his Euro squad and doesn’t see it as a normal friendly with the competition kicking off on June 11th.

France have been impressive in their qualifying campaign with just a few slip ups along the way. Two times winners of the World Cup, and current holders, their Euros squad is packed with world class talent. You only have to look at the potential line up tonight to see a country very comfortable in its own skin to leave out numerous other star players. Wales will rely strongly on the Swansea City academy system over the past eight years or so as the spine of the team. Ben Davies, Ben Cabango, Conner Roberts, Joe Allen and Joe Rodon all coming through the successful system at the Liberty. Dan James is another player developed through the reserve and age group sides after his signing from Hull City.

Our France line up tonight
Maignan; Dubois, Kounde, Lenglet, Digne; Rabiot, Sissoko; Dembele, Griezmann, Mbappe, Benzema

Our Wales lineup tonight
Ward; Rodon, Cabango, Mepham; Roberts, Smith, Morrell, Levitt, Bale, Moore, James

France Euro squad
GK: Hugo Lloris, (Tottenham Hotspur)
GK: Steve Mandanda, (Marseille)
GK: Mike Maignan, (Lille)
DF: RaphaÃ«l Varane, (Real Madrid)
DF: Jules Kounde, (Sevilla)
DF: Lucas Digne, (Everton)
DF: Benjamin Pavard, (Bayern Munich)
DF: Lucas Hernandez, (Bayern Munich)
DF: Presnel Kimpembe, (Paris Saint-Germain)
DF: Clement Lenglet, (Barcelona)
DF: Kurt Zouma, (Chelsea)
DF: Leo Dubois, (Lyon)
MF: Paul Pogba, (Manchester United)
MF: Moussa Sissoko, (Tottenham Hotspur)
MF: N'Golo KantÃ©, (Chelsea)
MF: Adrien Rabiot, (Juventus)
MF: Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich)
FW: Olivier Giroud, (Chelsea)
FW: Antoine Griezmann, (Barcelona)
FW: Kylian MbappÃ©, (Paris Saint-Germain)
FW: Kingsley Coman, (Bayern Munich)
FW: Thomas Lemar, (Atletico Madrid)
FW: Ousmane Dembele, (Barcelona)
FW: Wissam Ben Yedder, (Monaco)
FW: Karim Benzema (Real Madrid)
FW: Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladb

Ferland Mendy and Tottenham's Tanguy NDombele missed the boat and Benzema has been recalled after six years since it was alleged he blackmailed Matthieu Valbuena in a sex tape bribery case. Benzema goes to trial in October. His lawyer states there is nothing to defend and told AP press "This decision is as much absurd as it was predictable”

It’s a huge challenge for Wales this evening. Kick off in Nice is 8.05pm UK time.
You can watch the game LIVE on S4C and Sky Sports. Radio Wales and Talk Sport have LIVE commentary.

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