Good evening everyone! A packed week of international football continues, with a host of friendlies taking place before the domestic action resumes at the weekend. In the south of France, the Euro 2016 hosts welcome Sweden to the Stade Velodrome, as they continue to try to perfect their squad before the finals.

Stade vélodrome #Marseille #FRASUE pic.twitter.com/YRFgyLCzes

— Bixente Lizarazu (@BixeLizarazu) November 18, 2014

For the next couple of years the French will just be playing friendlies, due to the fact they have already qualified for the European Championships as hosts. They are unbeaten since the World Cup and have claimed victories over Spain and Portugal, but a draw against Albania in Rennes last week was not the type of result they would have wanted.

As for Sweden, they were denied all three points at the weekend, with Montenegro scoring late on to salvage a 1-1 draw. The result has left them second in their qualifying group with six points, having won one and drawn three of their games so far.

We are fast approaching kick off, so before I go any further, let's have a look at the players that will be in action at the Stade Velodrome in just over 20 minutes.

FRANCE XI: Mandanda, Kurzawa, Mangala, Varane, Sagna, Pogba, Guilavogui, Valbuena, Payet, Griezmann, Gignac

SWEDEN XI: Isaksson, Krafth, Jansson, Granqvist, Bengtsson, Larsson, Kallstrom, Kacaniklic, Bahoui, Zengin, Thelin

So, there we have the starting lineups for each team. The big news for France is that Raphael Varane is named as his country's captain, with Hugo Lloris rested. At the age of just 21, he is the youngest Frenchman to start a match wearing the armband.

Layvin Kurzawa and Eliaquim Mangala are also in the back four, in a very youthful looking French lineup. Paul Pogba and Josuha Guilavogui will sit ahead of them in the midfield, with Mathieu Valbuena, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann providing support for lone striker Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Sweden's captain Zlatan Ibrahimovic is missing, so Malmo youngster Isaac Kiese Thelin takes his place up front. There is no shortage of experience in the side, with Kim Kallstrom and Andreas Isaksson winning their 116th and 118th caps, while the likes of Alexander Kacaniklic and Sebastian Larsson will provide the flair.

This is the 18th meeting between the two teams and it's France who have the better record, having won eight of those games. It was Sweden who were victorious the last time they played, as goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson gave them a 2-0 win in Euro 2012. That victory proved meaningless though, as France joined England in escaping from the group.

Let's take a quick look at each team's substitutes, with plenty of familiar faces beginning the evening on the bench.

FRANCE SUBS: Lloris, Costil, Jallet, Zouma, Digne, Yanga-Mbiwa, Cabaye, Gonalons, Sissoko, Schneiderlin, Perrin, Lacazette, Benzema

SWEDEN SUBS: Nordfeldt, Antonsson, Wendt, Ekdal, Helander, Wernbloom, Forsberg, Hrgota, Guidetti, Durmaz

We have heard the anthems from each country and the start of the match is now just a couple of minutes away.

KICKOFF! We are underway at the Stade Velodrome!

CHANCE! The French are almost in the lead barely a minute into the game. Payet picks up the ball on the left and drives towards the edge of the box, before curling a strike towards the far corner, but it goes just wide of the post. It was a wonderful piece of play from the winger, in front of his home fans.

CHANCE! France are playing some great stuff in these early stages and they have another chance when Pogba picks the ball up 25 yards out from goal. The Juventus midfielder looks to pick out the top corner, but his effort flies wide of the target.

It's very much all France in the opening stages of this match. They have have had all of the possession and the Swedes have barely had a touch of the ball. They are also looking very dangerous down the wings, with Sagna looking to get forward as much as he can on the right.

CHANCE! Some of the football from France this evening has been of the highest quality. They work another good opening as Pogba chips a delightful ball into the path of Kurzawa, who then volleys over the bar from a tight angle. It would have been a great goal had it gone in.

Sweden really haven't got going yet. They are being pegged back right on the edge of their own box and are coming under increasing pressure. Thelin has been unable to get on the ball up front, with the forward looking isolated at the moment.

Pogba is more than capable of scoring from range and he tries his luck again from distance with a drive that heads just wide. He is the sort of player that you won't want to give too many chances to, as sooner of later he will surely test Isaksson.

The Swedes are given their first real chance to threaten the French goal after winning a free kick just outside the box. It's Larsson who steps up to take it, but his effort is poor and ends up striking the wall.

Sanga hasn't played too often for Manchester City this season, but he looks full of energy tonight. After France break up a rare Swedish attack, the full back picks up the ball and charges towards the box. He doesn't have many options, so tries to pick out the top corner, but his strike flashes wide of the far post.

Sweden have come into the game in the past few minutes, but it's still France who look the more likely to score. The latest chance on goal from the hosts sees Varane meet Kurzawa's cross, before heading the ball well over the top.

CHANCE! I haven't spoken too much about Valbuena this evening, but the playmaker almost scores an absolute stunner. He is found by Payet's pass over the top and with his back to goal he takes the ball down on his chest, before attempting an audacious overhead kick. His effort goes just over the bar, but it was a brilliant piece of play from the former Marseille man.

France are still well on top and the only surprise is how they haven't scored. They are beginning to crank up the pressure and their opponents just about survive after they win a succession of corners.

CHANCE! France have had plenty of opportunities to take the lead, but this may be the best one yet. Gignac finds some space just outside the box and slides a wonderful ball through to Griezmann. The winger looks odds on to score, but he can't get clean contact on the ball and Isaksson dives at his feet to make the save.

Sweden will be delighted if they can get to half time with the game still goalless. They have defended extremely well and Jansson and Granqvist in particular have dealt admirably with the threat of the French attack.

CHANCE! The visitors have barely posed a threat, but they almost break the deadlock moments before the end of the half. It's Thelin with the chance as he turns on the ball just inside the box and fires a shot goalwards that Mandanda has to get down low to palm away.

No stoppage time is added on at the end of the first half, with the game still goalless between France and Sweden. The hosts have been by far the better side, but have not been able to trouble Isaksson too often.

The best chance of the half probably fell to Griezmann, who was denied at point-blank range by Isaksson. He had been fed through by Gignac, but was unable to make the most of the shot and poked a tame effort goalwards. Aside from that, Valbuena put an overhead kick over the bar and Payet curled wide in the opening minute, as the French dominated.

The stats back up just how dominant France have been this evening. They have had a huge 68% of the possession and have had 14 attempts on goal, compared to Sweden's four shots. However, they have only hit the target once and have lacked a cutting edge in the final third.

© Getty Images

There are bound to be plenty of substitutions made after the break and France have a number of players that could break the deadlock. Karim Benzema and Alexandre Lacazette are the forward options, while Yohan Cabaye and Moussa Sissoko are capable of making a positive impact. As for the visitors, John Guidetti looks an attractive option to come on, having scored nine goals already for Celtic this season.

Both teams are making their way back out onto the pitch and the second half will be getting started in just a few moments.

France take the kick off and get the match back underway.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Sweden have made three changes, with Durmaz, Wendt and Ekdal coming on for Kallstrom, Bengtsson and Bahoui.

CHANCE! France have started the second half on top and they almost break the deadlock when Payet picks out Gignac in the box and the forward sees his low shot on the turn saved by the keeper.

The hosts win a free kick in a promising position just outside the box and Griezmann steps up to take it. The Atletico Madrid man looks to put his effort in the top right corner, but he gets too much on the strike and ends up firing it over the bar.

It's Sweden's turn to go for goal and Zengin drills in a low effort after working some space just outside the box. His effort is hit straight at Mandanda, who comfortably makes the save, but it is a promising sign for the visitors.

CHANCE! Sweden should be ahead. Following a decent attack down the right, Larsson whips a great ball into the box that Thelin meets, but the striker ends up putting his header over the bar.

CHANCE! The chances on goal are coming thick and fast now. Down the other end of the pitch Griezmann latches onto a loose header and with his back to goal, tries a bicycle kick looking for the far corner. His effort ends up going just wide of the post, with Gignac launching himself at the ball and coming within inches of turning it in.

SAVE! All the chances are falling Griezmann's way at the moment. From a corner, he is picked out by Varane's header back across goal at the far post, before drilling in a low strike that Isaksson does well to beat away.

SUBSTITUTION: The hosts make their first change of the evening, with Sissoko coming on to replace Payet.

CHANCE! Griezmann has given the Swedish defence some real problems this evening and he combines brilliantly with Pogba to get in down the left. The winger then whips a low ball across the box that Granqvist almost diverts into his own net, but the keeper comes to his rescue with the save.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Sweden make another double change, with Hrgota and Guidetti replacing Zengin and Thelin.

SUBSTITUTIONS: France have been calling out for a striker to turn the ball into the net and Benzema and Lacazette are both now on the pitch, with Gignac and Valbuena making way.

Benzema's first piece of action since arriving on the pitch is to take a free kick from a tight angle on the left. He tries to whip the ball in towards the front post, but puts his effort slightly wide of the target.

France have found the target a couple more times since the break than in the first 45 minutes, but they have still been incredibly wasteful. Lacazette is the latest player to fire wide, as he gets his swerving strike from just outside the box all wrong.

This is an unfortunate moment, as Kurzawa pulls up with what appears to be a hamstring injury while charging down the left. He doesn't look like he is going to be able to continue and may be facing a spell on the sidelines.

SUBSTITUTION: Kurzawa does indeed have to come off and Digne is brought on in his place.

As we enter the final 10 minutes, the French still look the team more likely to open the scoring. However, unless their finishing drastically improves then we won't be seeing any goals at the Stade Velodrome.

France have finally scored and it's their captain who has found the back of the net. The goal comes from a corner, as Varane meets Griezmann's delivery and powers a header into the far corner leaving the keeper with no chance.

PENALTY TO FRANCE! France will have the chance to score a second as Wednt handles the ball inside the box and gives away a penalty. The full back is then shown a card and he can have no complaints.

MISSED PENALTY! One man who you would expect to find the net is Benzema, as he steps up to take the penalty. However, the Real Madrid striker ends up firing his effort over the bar. That really was a poor strike from a player in such good form for his club this season.

Griezmann has probably been the best player on the pitch this evening and he has yet another chance to find the net. After good move from the French, he finds some room in the box to get away a strike, but his effort from a tight angle is held by the keeper.

We are going to have three minutes of stoppage time.

It's all over in Marseille and Raphael Varane's late header has given France the win this evening. It was no more than they deserved, but they really should have found the net more than once after having 28 attempts on goal throughout the 90 minutes.

That's all we've got time for this evening. Please stay with us for the results and all the reaction from tonight's fixtures. I hope you have enjoyed our coverage. Until next time, goodbye!