
France coach Didier Deschamps makes six changes to his starting line-up for Wednesday's World Cup Group E clash with Ecuador at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
As expected, Morgan Schneiderlin of Southampton wins just his second cap in midfield in the absence of the suspended Yohan Cabaye.
Elsewhere, Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann are restored to the side after starting on the bench in last Friday's 5-2 win against Switzerland.
There are also first starts at this World Cup in defence for Bacary Sagna, Lucas Digne and Laurent Koscielny.
The latter replaces Real Madrid's Raphael Varane, who has struggled in recent days with a stomach bug, but Mamadou Sakho takes his place in the side having recovered from a thigh problem.
For Ecuador, the only change to the team that defeated Honduras 2-1 last Friday sees Michael Arroyo come into the attack at the expense of Felipe Caicedo.
France need a point to be certain of qualifying for the last 16 as group winners, although they would need to lose by at least four goals and see Switzerland win by at least five against Honduras in order to be eliminated.
Ecuador can progress by matching Switzerland's result in the other game in Manaus.
The winners of Group E will face Nigeria in the last 16 in Brasilia next Monday, while the runners-up will face Argentina in Sao Paulo next Tuesday.
Ecuador
Alexander Dominguez; Juan Paredes, Jorge Guagua, Frickson Erazo, Walter Ayovi; Christian Noboa, Oswaldo Minda; Antonio Valencia, Michael Arroyo (capt), Jefferson Montero; Enner Valencia
Coach: Reinaldo Rueda (COL)
France: Hugo Lloris (capt); Bacary Sagna, Laurent Koscielny, Mamadou Sakho, Lucas Digne; Paul Pogba, Morgan Schneiderlin, Blaise Matuidi; Moussa Sissoko, Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann
Coach: Didier Deschamps (FRA)
Referee: Noumandiez Doue (CIV)
Source: AFP
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