Good evening and welcome to our live coverage from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard where France, looking to boost their preparations for hosting next year's European Championships, face Denmark, currently top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group. We'll start with tonight's team news from Saint-Etienne.

FRANCE XI Ruffier, Tremoulinas, Koscielny, Varane, Jallet, Kondogbia, Schneiderlin, Griezmann, Payet, Lacazette, Giroud

DENMARK XI Schmeichel, Wass, Kjaer, Sviatchenko, Boilesen, Jacobsen, Kvist, Krohn-Dehli, Eriksen, Bendtner, Vibe

So Didier Deschamps has opted for Laurent Koscielny alongside Raphael Varane in the heart of the defence. Sevilla left back Benoit Tremoulinas will make his third appearance for Les Bleus. In attack, Olivier Giroud will be supported by Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann and Lyon star Alexandre Lacazette.

Morten Olsen opts to retain Nicolas Bendtner after the forward netted a hat-trick in the 3-2 victory over the United States on Wednesday. Kasper Schmeichel, who spent much of the early part of the season sidelined by injury, is recalled to Denmark's starting lineup. Lille centre-back Simon Kjaer also features for the Scandinavians.

For Les Bleus, this game represents the opportunity to bounce back from a 3-1 defeat against World Cup semi-finalists Brazil on Thursday evening. However, they have been less than convincing in previous friendlies, having drawn with Albania and narrowly winning against Sweden. Les Bleus may want a strong performance to kick-start their Euro 2016 preparations in earnest.

As mentioned, Denmark have made a great start in their bid to reach next year's tournament in France as they lead Group I, ahead of Portugal. The Danes do need to sure up a leaking defence, having failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven internationals. Perhaps the recall of Schmeichel in goal will help breed confidence in the back line?

PREDICTION: We're a matter of minutes away from kick off in Saint-Etienne, so it's time for a prediction. Denmark should provide Didier Deschamps' side with a stern test, but the fact that they have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last seven games makes me think that Les Bleus will win this game 3-1.

We're still waiting for the players to emerge from the tunnel at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, but we have a decent crowd and plenty of noise ready to greet the two teams.

France and Denmark emerges to furious flag waving and cheers from both home and away fans. We'll have the national anthems and then the action will begin.

UPDATE: Before we get underway, a quick scoreline from Denmark's group. Portugal have taken the lead at home to Serbia. The Portuguese are only one point behind the Danes in Group I and will move to the top with a victory.

KICKOFF: France kick off the action in Saint-Etienne.

France monopolise possession in the early moments, but a cross from Jallet comes to nothing before Les Bleus earn a corner. One thing is for sure. Every touch by Stephane Ruffier will be greeted with loud cheers. Clearly a few Saint-Etienne fans in the crowd.

Sviatchenko concedes another corner as gets his head to a cross with Giroud breathing down his neck. Schmeichel tries to keep the ball in play, but it doesn't matter when the Danes clear the set-piece.

Les Bleus are enjoying almost all of the possession. Indeed, I can't remember a Danish touch on the ball that didn't involve a defensive clearance! Impressive from Deschamps' side so far.

No sooner do I say that Denmark haven't had any ball in attacking area than Wass breaks into space down the right flank. His ball to Krohn-Dehli is disappointing, however, as Tremoulinas intercepts. Wass is given space to exploit moments later, but another poor delivery gifts possession to the hosts.

UPDATE: Ireland are currently goalless in their home qualifier with Poland. A win for Martin O'Neill's team would see four teams level on 10 points at the top of Group D this evening.

Denmark appear to have settled into the game and are getting more of the ball, but it's France that look the more dangerous.

France take a deserved lead and it's Lyon striker Lacazette who opens the scoring after Schmeichel could only parry Griezmann's well-struck shot into his path.

FOUL: Kjaer gets a talking to from the referee after hauling down Giroud in the centre of the pitch. Perhaps, in a competitive international, he may have earned a yellow card there.

Griezmann, who has looked threatening in the opening minutes, is flagged for offside before Denmark earn their first corner of the game. Eriksen takes, but again Denmark's delivery in the final third is leaving a lot to be desired.

UPDATE: Slawomir Peszko has given Poland a 25th-minute lead in Dublin against Republic of Ireland. Poland could move three clear of Scotland and Germany with a win at the Aviva Stadium.

Payet finds space on the right-hand side to deliver a tantalising ball, but Giroud meets the cross slighty off-balance and heads wide. France look to be edging closer to a second goal here.

CHANCE: A great opportunity for Lacazette to get his second of the evening only for the Lyon frontman to see his strike turned around for a corner by Schmeichel. Good save from the Leicester shot-stopper!

SHOT: From the resulting corner, Payet tries his luck from the edge of the area with a curling effort that doesn't quite curl enough to trouble to Danish keeper.

Tremoulinas is causing problems for Wass down the left wing and the full back manages to slot a pass through to Giroud before the ball dribbles out of play.

Eriksen can count himself lucky as his crossfield ball is cut out by Griezmann before the subsequent attack comes to nothing. Denmark are living dangerously here.

Bendtner has hardly had a touch of the ball in attack for the Danes. France have done well to isolate him, but the likes of Eriksen could perhaps play higher up the pitch to help get the ex-Arsenal man into the game.

FOUL: Vibe pinches the ball away from Lacazette and gets clattered by the forward for his troubles. Only a talking to from referee Ivan Kruzliak though.

Schmeichel is remonstrating with the Denmark defence, as Kjaer is fouled by Giroud while heading a cross away from his own six-yard box. Morten Olsen's side have struggled to contain Les Blues in advanced areas so far.

More promising build-up play sees the French double their lead and it's Giroud who is on-hand to take Kondogbia's pass before slotting past Schmeichel at the far post. Good move from Deschamps' team.

Schmeichel is called upon to keep out another effort from this potent France frontline. He turns away another effort from Lacazette.

FOUL: Eriksen finally receives the ball in an advanced area, but is fouled by Kondogbia. He tries to take a quick free kick, but Krohn-Delhi's own appeals for a foul are waved away.

CHANCE: Denmark almost steal a goal back against the run of play. Krohn-Dehli's cross into the box just evades Bendtner and strikes the right-hand post before trickling out for a goal kick. The visitors' best chance so far.

There is no doubt that France have deserved their two-goal lead and could have had more in Saint-Etienne. However, Denmark may feel that they need to get sole striker Nicolas Bendtner into the game more after the interval.

BENCH WATCH: In terms of options on the bench, Morten Olsen can call upon forwards Martin Braithwaite or Nicolai Jorgensen, if he decides to give Bendtner some support up top. France, meanwhile, still have Real Madrid's Karim Benzema in reserve for the second half. I imagine the away side will be happy not to see him on the pitch tonight!

UPDATE: Portugal are still leading against Serbia at the moment, but only by a solitary Ricardo Carvalho goal in Lisbon.

One player who looks to be in good form for Denmark is Kasper Schmeichel. The Leicester keeper made several fine saves in the opening period and France could have scored four or five, but for his intervention.

STATS! France have surprisingly had just 51% of the ball in that first 45 minutes, but Deschamps men had nine shots at goal, hitting the target with five. Denmark failed to register a single shot on target, although Krohn-Dehli did hit the post late on, albeit with a cross meant for the head of Bendtner.

The teams are returning from the dressing rooms at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. Can France build on their dominant first-half display? We'll find out very soon...

KICKOFF: Denmark get the second period underway in Saint-Etienne. Olsen makes two changes with Anders Christiansen and Simon Poulsen coming on for Wass and Boilsen.

SHOT: Krohn-Dehli sees an early shot blocked by the French defence before Poulsen is penalised for a foul on Giroud.

France look to be starting the second period in the same vein as they began the first. Schneiderlin delivers a precise ball over the top, which Giroud is able to chest down before Svitachenko manages to dispossess the Arsenal forward.

UPDATE: In Denmark's group. Serbia had managed to draw level through Nemanja Matic against Portugal, but Fabio Coentrao has restored the home side's lead in Lisbon.

FOUL: Tremoulinas concedes a free kick for his challenge on Vibe. Strangely, Denmark end up playing the ball right back to Schmeichel. At 2-0, you'd have thought that the visitors would be looking to attack the penalty area, surely?

Loud shouts for a penalty from the Saint-Etienne crowd for Kjaer and Svitachenko's dual challenge on Lacazette, but the referee points for a corner. Payet duly delivers and Denmark duly clear the danger.

DENMARK SUB: Olsen is perhaps rolling the dice by introducing forward Nicolai Jorgensen in attack at the expense of Vibe in midfield.

Denmark earn a corner and, while France manage to clear away, Poulsen unleashes a fierce shot from distance that isn't far away from Ruffier's goal.

FRANCE SUB: Griezmann is done for the night as the Atletico Madrid player makes way for Nabil Fekir. Expect plenty more changes as the half progresses.

CLOSE: Fekir almost makes an instant contribution as he picks up the ball on the right-hand side of the Danish area and his deft chip only just evades Giroud in the centre. France waste the ensuing corner as the Danes clear from Payet's cross.

SAVE: Eriksen is given plenty of space to attack and the Tottenham playmaker fires in a shot that Ruffier manages to guide over the crossbar. That might be Denmark's first shot on target.

CHANCE: The Saint-Etienne keeper is called into action again within seconds as Bendtner finds space to shoot, but the enigmatic forward is denied by Ruffier. Denmark starting to make an strong impression in the final third?

Fekir has looked dangerous on the wing and the Lyon midfielder manages to weave some space and deliver another cross, but once again he can't find a French head in the box. Unlucky!

UPDATE: Republic of Ireland still trail at home to Poland, but have hit the woodwork at the Aviva. If they can turn it around, they can draw level with their rivals for qualification in Group D.

FRANCE SUB: Lacazette is withdrawn by Deschamps and Matuidi comes on for Les Bleus. The Lyon striker could be playing his way into the French squad for Euro 2016, if he delivers more performances like tonight.

France haven't given up on adding to their score tonight! Payet's trickery gives him space to cross, but Giroud is unable to generate any power in his header and the ball drifts harmlessly wide of Schmeichel's goal.

DENMARK SUB: Another change by Morten Olsen as Sviatchenko is replaced by Kian Hansen.

Les Bleus look to have taken their foot off the gas. Denmark have managed to edge the possession stats to 50-50 for the first time in the game, but they continue to be impotent in the final third. Poulsen's hopeful long ball is intended for Krohn-Dehli, but Varane calmly heads back to Ruffier.

France look to be making a double change with Kurt Zouma and Mathieu Valbuena getting ready to come on.

FRANCE SUB: Zouma and Valbuena are indeed introduced. The impressive Payet makes way, as does Schneiderlin.

DENMARK SUB: Eriksen's mixed evening has come to an end. He comes off for Lasse Schone.

CLOSE: Valbuena nearly makes an immediate impact on the game as his corner reaches Koscielny. The Arsenal defender's initial effort is blocked, but his follow-up strike isn't far off-target. Nearly a third for Les Bleus.

A quick mention for Kurt Zouma, who is picking up his first international cap this evening. The youngster, who has impressed at Chelsea in his first season, is the latest player with Saint-Etienne connections, having spent his formative years with Les Verts.

Schone almost snatches a late goal for the Danes after France fail to clear a loose ball. Jorgensen managed to cut a pass back for the Ajax winger before the ball bobbles in the Ruffier's grasp.

DENMARK SUB: Thomas Delaney is brought on in the dying moments for Kvist.

Three minutes of stoppage time left at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard...

FRANCE SUB: Slightly worrying moment for the hosts as Jallet goes down grasping his shoulder. He's immediately withdrawn with Bacary Sagna making a late appearance.

Didier Deschamps will be delighted with that performance from France. They have struggling to find their rhythm in previous friendlies, but Lacazette and Giroud steered the home side to an easy win. Denmark didn't provide the stiff test that their qualifying form might have suggested. In truth, Les Bleus deserved to win by more than two goals!

Denmark's night was made worse when Portugal leapfrogged them in the Group I table with a 2-1 win over Serbia. Fabio Coentrao getting the decisive goal in Lisbon.

That brings our coverage to an end for this evening. Thank you for joining me this evening and remember that you can keep up-to-date with all the latest from the Euro 2016 qualifiers with Sports Mole's dedicated coverage. I shall leave with the match report from the game in Saint-Etienne, but for now it's good night from me.