Just two minutes to be added on at the end of this second half.
88'
STAT ATTACK: France have won successive friendly matches against Serbia and Portugal to rebound from back-to-back defeats against Albania and Belgium. They have not won three consecutive friendly matches since October 2013 to May 2014.
87'
A. Lacazette enters the game and replaces A. Griezmann.
Griezmann receives a thunderous applause from these home supporters, as well as a heartfelt congratulations from Deschamps as he is withdrawn for the final few minutes. Lyon forward Alexandre Lacazette is the man introduced.
85'
Fractions away from a fifth! Nervy moments for Kasparov as he scuffs a clearance straight to Griezmann. The Atletico forward looks for a second, chipping an effort at goal with the keeper parried, but it swerves just wide of the far post!
83'
The result is settled, though one could argue it has been since Griezmann's opener after 35 minutes. Armenia have seven minutes plus stoppage time to try and salvage some much needed respect and confidence among their team.
81'
O. Giroud enters the game and replaces K. Benzema.
And with that, Benzema's night comes to and end. Olivier Giroud is given a run out as promised, though the Arsenal man likely would have had a bit more time to make an impact having been dropped from the starting lineup for both club and country.
80'
A. Grigoryan enters the game and replaces K. Mkrtchyan.
79'
K. Benzema has scored a goal for France! Assist by A. Martial.
WHEN IT RAINS IT POURS! Benzema has waited a long time for that last goal, but now that it's come the floodgates have opened as he grabs a second in as many minutes. He's played through behind the defence with Armenia caught napping and a clever little stutter freezes the keeper, allowing him to send a powerful finish into the bottom corner.
77'
M. Sissoko enters the game and replaces Y. Cabaye.
K. Benzema has scored a goal for France! Assist by A. Griezmann.
Lovely applause circulates through the ground as Moussa Sissoko replaces his one time Newcastle teammate Cabaye. The Palace midfielder has staked a claim to a regular place in the team with his showing tonight.
BENZEMA FINALLY GETS HIS GOAL! Griezmann delivers a corner and Benzema meets it with a textbook header, sending the ball thumping past a helpless Kasparov to remove any and all doubt in what is now surely a French victory. That goal pulls him level with Sylvain Wiltord for eighth on France's all-time scoring list.
75'
Armenia have been limited going forward, but they've posed a real threat when they do venture into the final third. Varane has been a big part of helping to keep them out thus far, with the young centre-half looking incredibly composed and capable in defence. He's got everything you want from a defender.
Minute
Description
73'
STAT ATTACK: Armenia have lost five consecutive friendly matches against UEFA members, since a 1-1 draw with Luxembourg in February 2013. They were outscored 15-1 in those matches.
71'
He needed to pick out a return there! Exceptional running from Griezmann who has plenty of speed to burn as he enters the final third and picks out the run of Benzema. The striker tries to complete the one-two with an improvised back-heel, but the return pass lacks the quality to play the Atletico forward through on goal.
70'
D. Manoyan enters the game and replaces H. Hambardzumyan.
69'
Great interplay between Benzema and Diarra, but the striker's attempted cutback inside the area is cut out smartly by Andonian. France are awarded a corner but they have to wait to take as Hambardzumyan is down and in need of attention.
67'
M. Schneiderlin gets yellow.
Smart foul from Schneiderlin, taking one for the team there as he goes into the referee's book for a cynical challenge - his first since coming on - which breaks up what was looking like a very threatening counter from Armenia.
66'
N. Aslanyan enters the game and replaces G. Ghazaryan.
Diarra has really grown into the match tonight and is becoming a prominent figure in midfield. He's also starting to contribute in attack, picking out some excellent balls and making some smart runs into the final third.
64'
Double switch for France as they introduce Premier League duo Anthony Martial and Morgan Schneiderlin. The Manchester United striker is set to make his longest appearance for the senior squad, having been given just two 15 minute run outs previously against Serbia and Portugal.
63'
M. Schneiderlin enters the game and replaces B. Matuidi.
A. Martial enters the game and replaces M. Valbuena.
62'
STAT ATTACK: This is the third friendly meeting between the two sides. France won the first two by a combined score of 5-0, with the most recent clash resulting in a 3-0 triumph for Les Bleus in Armenia in October 2014 with Loic Remy, Andre-Pierre Gignac and Antoine Griezmann getting on the scoresheet.
61'
V. Poghosyan enters the game and replaces K. Hovhannisyan.
60'
M. Pizzelli enters the game and replaces H. Mkhitaryan.
Domestic duties are almost surely taking precedence here as Mkhitaryan's night comes to an end after just an hour. He's replaced by Champions League outfit Aktobe's Marcos Pizzelli.
59'
ALMOST THREE! You would expect a bit better from Benzema there as he makes a clever run to the near post to get on the end of Valbuena's low cross, but is unable to direct an effort on target. Instead he knocks it across the face of goal where Hayrapetyan is waiting to clear.
57'
France are looking very comfortable in possession, in thanks to the breathing room they now have on the scoreboard. Armenia have completely stopped their pressing high up the pitch which has made it incredibly difficult on them to win back possession.
55'
Y. Cabaye has scored a goal for France! Assist by M. Valbuena.
TERRIFIC HIT AND FRANCE GO TWO UP! It's a sensational strike from Cabaye as he picks up possession atop the area, uses a defender as a shield and rifles a lightning bolt into the far bottom corner. No chance for Kasparov!
54'
A. Özbiliz enters the game and replaces A. Sarkisov.
First change of the match comes from Armenia, and being a friendly both sides are allowed six substitutions. The very capable Aras Ozbiliz is on in place of Sarkisov.
52'
There's been a very different feel to the match in this second half. Armenia are content in dropping off with France in possession, keen on keeping their shape and affording no space in the final third. Les Bleus are also taking a much more patient approach in attack, content with working the ball around in midfield and waiting for an opening.
50'
STAT ATTACK: France have lost just three of their last 25 friendly matches against Uefa competition (W17, D5).
48'
Armenia start positively in this second half, enjoyed a decent spell in possession - though are posing little threat going forward. Being a friendly, they can afford to take a few more chances in attack and I think with France looking vulnerable at times in defence, the visitors will start to commit bodies forward in search of an equaliser.
46'
Back underway in France! No changes yet, but expect plenty from both sides as the match wears on.
45'
No time to be added on as we reach the interval in Nice!
43'
Fearless block from Varane! Mkhitaryan takes a short pass from a free kick following the foul from Sakho, and looks to tries his luck on a half-volley from 25-yards out. Varane closes the gap quickly and does ever so well to turn the effort aside, much to the appreciation of Lloris.
42'
M. Sakho gets yellow.
41'
STAT ATTACK: Armenia have the fewest points among all pot four teams in the qualifying phase for the European Championships (D2, L5). They, along with Latvia, are the only two teams from the pot yet to record a victory.
39'
Cabaye has faded a bit since his lively start, with France asking too much of Griezmann and Valbuena in attack. They need a bit more support on the flanks, while Sagna and Evra have struggled to find space on the overlap in the last 10 minutes or so.
37'
Life has been breathed back into the Allianz Riviera as France are on the front foot yet again, hoping to add to their lead before half time. Valbuena lofts a free kick into the area, but Armenia deal with it, and the follow-up from Griezmann is cannoned over the bar.
35'
A. Griezmann has scored a goal for France! Assist by K. Benzema.
ARMENIAN RESISTANCE IS BROKEN! Griezmann snatches France the lead 10-minutes from half time as he finishes off a delicate one-two with Benzema following an error from Armenia in midfield, smashing a shot past Kasparov and into the ceiling of the net.
33'
Pressure mounting! Matuidi is played through on the flank by a tidy ball from Valbuena, but he's unable to pick out Benzema in the centre with Voskanyan providing the cover. The visitors fail to clear their lines and Evra is presented with a chance from 10-yards out, but Kasparov denies him a first international goal!
31'
STAT ATTACK: France and Armenia have met just twice before competitively, in the preliminary stage for the 1999 European Championships. Les Bleus won both meetings, 2-0 in Paris before a 3-2 triumph in Yerevan.
29'
Evra and Sagna have found plenty of space on the flanks, posing a decent threat on the overlap - though they've been too sporadic in making runs forward. Valbuena and Griezmann are creating plenty of space with their movement off the ball, but their teammates aren't doing enough to exploit it.
27'
For all their encouraging moments in attack, the final ball has eluded this French side. They've struggled to pick out openings inside the area and in committing men forward have left themselves vulnerable in defence when Armenia are afforded the chance to counter.
25'
Lloris to the rescue! Near disaster in defence for France as Sakho is unable to deal with a seemingly harmless through ball, which affords Sarkisov the chance to run through. The keeper spots the danger and comes flying off his line to intervene atop the area, arriving just a split-second ahead of the striker.
23'
Voskanyan is very lucky not to be the second Armenian player booked in three minutes as he cynically sweeps the legs of Valbuena after a lovely bit of trickery from the playmaker. We've surpassed the halfway mark of the first half and despite France's dominance, Armenia have produced the best chance of the match.
21'
STAT ATTACK: Armenia are winless in their last 11 matches across all competitions (D2, L9) since a 4-3 triumph over the United Arab Emirates in May 2014.
20'
H. Hambardzumyan gets yellow.
19'
HAD TO BE IN! Mkhitaryan running riot in the final third, this time rolling Mkrtchyan through inside the left channel. The midfielder unselfishly tries to send a pass across for Sarkisov, but it runs too far from the striker who is unable to get the vital touch! He had to go for goal himself there.
17'
Armenia have their first corner, with Mkhitaryan the architect, courtesy of a sensational diagonal ball to pick out Hovhannisyan. The winger is unable to get his shot through the close marking of Evra, however, and then Sakho clears the ensuing corner with relative ease.
15'
Mkhitaryan does well to win a free kick near the halfway line, after negotiating the beating of Diarra. He is the danger man for the visitors, but has not seen nearly as much of the ball as Armenia will need to get him if they are to have a chance in this game.
13'
Valbuena is another player who is proving instrumental at the moment. He's been a joy to watch in possession, beating defenders at will, while his movement off the ball is creating a number of issues for this Armenian defence. Superb start for the hosts, absolutely dominating up to this point, though they would love a goal to cap it off.
11'
Smart from Kasparov! Matuidi and Evra work a delightful one-two along the left, with the wing-back playing a testing cross in towards the near post. Hambardzumyan intervenes, but nearly slices his clearance into his own goal, kept out only by a smart reactionary stop from the keeper.
9'
STAT ATTACK: Karim Benzema’s next goal will pull him level with Sylvain Wiltord for eighth on France’s all-time scoring list, though he currently has 12 fewer caps.
7'
France certainly appear up for the occasion in the early stages, bossing possession and taking the game to the visitors. Cabaye appears to be the catalyst in midfield, with move forward being worked through him thus far.
5'
ALMOST THE OPENER! Benzema makes a great diagonal run to be picked out by Cabaye, and the striker they lays it off for Valbuena in a prominent position inside the area. He turns and spots the Palace midfielder, but a terrific block from Andonian sends the shot over the bar for a corner.
3'
One thing to keep an eye on is pitch quality. Nice and Nantes saw their Ligue 1 clash suspended at half-time on the weekend due to a waterlogged pitch caused by extreme weather conditions in recent days in the city. There doesn't appear to be any problems on first glance, but it could change with the wear and tear of the match.
1'
And we're underway in Nice!
Good evening footy fans around the world! We have some exciting friendly action for you this evening, straight from the Allianz Riviera in Nice. Didier Deschamps continues his preparation for the European Championships with hosts France, against an Armenia side who will not be participating in next summer’s tournament. I am Alex Moretto and I will be your in-game host, guiding you through the match LIVE as it happens!
Friendlies are not the ideal tune-up for a squad ahead of a major tournament, even though France aren’t treating them as such. Les Bleus will kick-off the 2016 European Championships having not played a competitive match since their quarter-final defeat to Germany in the World Cup. The one luxury it does afford coach Didier Deschamps is the ability to scout a wide range of players available for selection – which he has and will likely continue to take full advantage of. It’s an amenity most nations don’t have the ability to do as they focus their efforts on securing their qualifications.
Armenia have had a torrid time in qualifying and saw their hopes officially dashed over the last international break. They have just two points from their seven matches, a stark contrast to the 13 they picked up in World Cup qualification which nearly earned them a top-two finish – but fast forward two years and they’re in jeopardy of wasting the prime of arguably the best footballing talent to come out of their country in Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
Lassana Diarra makes his first France appearance for more than five years after winning a recall to the squad, starting alongside Crystal Palace's Yohann Cabaye and PSG's Blaise Matuidi in midfield. Patrice Evra is back deputising in defence with Benoit Tremoulinas out injured, while Mamadou Sakho gets the nod ahead of Eliaquim Mangala and Kurt Zouma. Few surprises up top, though Didier Deschamps has gone out of his way to back Olivier Giroud's return to form, with the striker having fallen out of favour with both club and country of late - so we should expect him to get a run out in the second half.
Spartak Moscow duo Yura Movsisyan and Aras Ozbiliz have been dropped from the starting lineup, as Sargis Hovsepyan makes five changes to his team following their draw with Denmark. Defender Gael Andonian should be familiar with a large contingent of this French squad, as he plays his club football with Ligue 1 outfit Marseille.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 1-0 ARMENIA. Antoine Griezmann has Les Bleus in front at the break, as they finally get a goal to show for all their possession. Armenia have done themselves justice, especially in defence, but they will need a bit of a step up in quality in the second half if they are to find an equaliser.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 4-0 ARMENIA. Karim Benzema scored a second half brace, with Antoine Griezmann and Yohan Cabaye adding the others, as Les Bleus trounce Sargis Hovsepyan's men.
I am Alex Moretto and I would like to thank you all for joining me here today. Good bye!
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