France, one of the favourites for the World Cup title, will be aiming to seal their spot in the round of 16 with a win. On the other hand, Peru will be desperate to avoid a first-round exit in their first World Cup competition in 36 years. Get live updates of France vs Peru, FIFA World Cup 2018 Group C encounter here. (FIFA World Cup 2018 FULL COVERAGE)
20:30 hrs IST: Anthems are over. It is play time!
20:28 hrs IST: France have not lost to a South American opposition at a World Cup since 1978
20:25 hrs IST: Earlier, in the day Denmark were held to a 1-1 draw against Spain. You can read the report here
20:20 hrs IST:
WhileFrance won their first match of the tournament against Australia 2-1, Peru lost to Denmark 0-1
20:15 hrs IST: For Peru, Jefferson Farfan and Renato Tapia are pushed to the bench with Pedro Aquino coming in. Guerrero, 34, is Peru’s all-time top goal-scorer but was cleared to play in the tournament only two weeks before it started when he won a reprieve from a doping ban over a cocaine byproduct contained in a tea he drank
20:10 hrs IST: France and Peru both switched their attacking line-ups for their Group C match with ‘Les Bleus’ bringing in the experienced Olivier Giroud and Paolo Guerrero starting. Coach Didier Deschamps acknowledged that France had lacked dynamism in attack in their first game against Australia, where they laboured to a 2-1 victory. In the French starting lineup Giroud and Blaise Matuidi come in to replace Ousmane Dembele and Corentin Tolisso
20:05: hrs IST: The match will be played at the Central Stadium in Yekaterinburg
20:00 hrs IST: Hello and welcome to the live blog of the Group C match between France and Peru
Didier Deschamps’s team were far from fluid against Australia in their opening game in Russia, needing VAR (the Video Assistant Referee) and consequent Antoine Griezmann penalty, then an own goal about 10 minutes from time, to snatch a 2-1 win.
But, while unconvincing, a French side featuring a misfiring front three of the usually prolific Griezmann and starlets Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele at least avoided embarrassment. Peru, backed by their vocal fans who have travelled in numbers, were the better side for long spells against the Danes and missed a golden opportunity to go in front when Christian Cueva ballooned his penalty over Kasper Schmeichel’s crossbar.
Another defeat for Peru, who will again be sporting their distinctive red sash shirts, could spell the end of their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds, in their first World Cup since 1982.
Source: HindustanTimes