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France vs Peru team news: Giroud starts as Dembele drops out of starting XI

France will start with Olivier Giroud in attack for their World Cup Group C encounter against Peru as they look to take a step closer to clinching qualification for the last 16.

The Chelsea striker came on as a substitute in the opening game against Australia and has been elevated to the starting XI at the expense of Ousmane Dembele for the game against Los Incas, where he will be partnered in attack by Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.

Didier Deschamps has also opted for a change in midfield, with Blaise Matuidi replacing Bayern Munich's Corentin Tolisso in the middle. The 31-year-old Juventus central midfielder will be joined by Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante, who each started the win over the Socceroos.

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Les Bleus captain Hugo Lloris is unsurprisingly between the posts and the Tottenham goalkeeper has an unchanged defence ahead of him with Raphael Varane, Samuel Umtiti, Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard forming the back line. 

Peru, meanwhile, have also made changes to the team that suffered defeat in their opening game against Denmark as they attempt to put points on the board and preserve their chances of remaining in the World Cup.

Team captain Paolo Guerrero comes into the starting XI, with Jefferson Farfan making way for the Flamengo striker.

Guerrero had been introduced as a second-half substitute in the loss to the Danes and clearly impressed sufficiently to earn a place in the team against France.

As well as Guerrero, Pedro Aquino comes into the team, with Renato Tapia making way.

France XI: Lloris; Pavard, Umtiti, Varane, Hernandez; Kante, Pogba, Matuidi; Griezmann, Mbappe, Giroud.

Peru XI: Gallese; Advincula, Rodriguez, Ramos, Trauco, Yotun, Aquino, Carrillo, Cueva, Flores, Guerrero.

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