D. Zappacosta enters the game and replaces F. Chiesa.
Chelsea's Zappacosta is brought on for the final couple of minutes, replacing Chiesa.
86'
A. Belotti enters the game and replaces M. Balotelli.
S. Nzonzi enters the game and replaces P. Pogba.
These fans at the Allianz Riviera give a nice cheer for Balotelli, who plays his domestic football here with Nice, as he's replaced for the final few minutes by Belotti.
France use the stoppage to make a change of their own, with N'Zonzi coming on for Pogba.
85'
STUNNING SAVE! Thauvin makes an immediate impact as he sprints to latch onto the end of Lemar's cross, sending an excellent volley back towards the near post from 15 yards, but Sirigu reacts quite incredibly to keep it out! What a save that was!
83'
F. Thauvin enters the game and replaces K. Mbappé.
Cheers all around for Mbappe as he gives way for Thauvin.
80'
Into the final 10 minutes now and the tempo has slowed, but only because of the wealth of stoppages. One injury break and six substitutions over the last 10 minutes has sucked the pace out of the match, but things should pick up again now as Italy resume their pursuit of a way back into this game.
78'
G. Bonaventura enters the game and replaces Jorginho.
Well Balotelli is back out on the pitch here, surprisingly, and it's Jorginho who gives way to Bonaventura with Italy's next change - not the Nice striker.
77'
B. Matuidi enters the game and replaces C. Tolisso.
O. Giroud enters the game and replaces A. Griezmann.
Matuidi is also brought on, at the expense of Tolisso.
Giroud comes on for the final 13 minutes for France, replacing Griezmann.
76'
Well this isn't what you want to see. Balotelli goes down behind the play and looks to be in some discomfort, clutching his right ankle. It's not entirely clear how he picked up a knock here, or if it's perhaps just some cramping, but either way that should be the end for him considering it's just a friendly.
74'
A. Florenzi enters the game and replaces D. D'Ambrosio.
L. Insigne enters the game and replaces D. Berardi.
Two more changes now for Italy. Insigne comes on to replace Berardi up top.
Florenzi also enters the fray, at the expense of D'Ambrosio.
Minute
Description
71'
T. Lemar enters the game and replaces O. Dembélé.
Dembele gives way for Lemar, walking off to a rousing applause from these France supporters.
69'
INCHES AWAY! Italy still knocking on the door, refusing to go away here! Chiesa lifts a lovely delivery across the face of goal for Cristante, who connects with a clever little volley from the edge of the penalty area, but it bounces just wide with Lloris at full-stretch to try and keep it out!
67'
SO CLOSE! Balotelli nearly pulls Italy right back in it once again, doing well to peel away from Umtiti to latch onto a cross. He cushions a header back across to the near post, but it crashes onto the roof of the net with Lloris appearing beaten!
65'
B. Cristante enters the game and replaces L. Pellegrini.
Italy make their first change of the night now as Pellegrini is replaced by Cristante, who comes on for his fourth cap.
63'
O. Dembélé has scored a goal for France!
WHAT A HIT! Goodness me that was special! Dembele pounces on a loose ball following a challenge on the edge of the Italy penalty area, and lifts a first-time strike over the head of Sirigu and into the far top corner! Simply stunning from the Barcelona man!
62'
B. Mendy enters the game and replaces L. Hernández.
The first change of the night is made by France as Mendy replaces Hernandez.
60'
Italy win the ball high up the pitch and break with great pace, immediately looking to get forward. Chiesa leads the charge and has Berardi making a run to his right, but the latter is unable to get on the end of the former's throughball as a dreadful first touch sees it run behind for a goal-kick! Berardi has to be doing better there.
58'
It's Italy who are returning the favour now with a high press, causing France problems. It was the hosts who were playing high up in the first half, but the roles have since reversed as Italy continue in the ascendancy here.
56'
Subs are warming up for both teams, as the intensity continues to pick up. This was a fun watch through the opening 45 minutes, and it's only got better since the restart. Hopefully some fresh legs will prove to only add to the excitement.
52'
INCHES WIDE! Back and forth they go here in Nice! France mount yet another response to an Italy chance, getting forward in a hurry before Tolisso is teed up for a shot from the top of the penalty area, but his first-time effort drifts just wide of the near post!
50'
LLORIS AT IT AGAIN! Another lovely bit of interplay from Italy on the front foot, as they continue to ramp up the intensity in possession. This one leads to a lovely chance for Chiesa, but Lloris is up to the task!
48'
OFF THE BAR! What a start this has been to the second half! Lloris produces a long throw out from the back that causes all sorts of problems for the Italy defence as Dembele is sprung down the left! The winger bursts into the area, cuts inside onto his right foot and bends an effort off the crossbar!
46'
WHAT A START TO THE SECOND HALF! Balotelli is sprung through behind the France defence just seconds after the restart, but Lloris makes a fine save with his right leg to deny the striker an equaliser at the near post!
45' +2
HALF-TIME: FRANCE 2-1 ITALY.
45'
There will be two minutes added on at the end of the first half.
43'
Griezmann hits the resulting free-kick straight into the wall, and Italy are able to clear their lines as they get their shape back in defence and relieve the pressure on their goal.
42'
L. Pellegrini gets yellow.
France's turn to try and make something from a free-kick as a Pellegrini foul awards the hosts one in a threatening position, and sees the Roma midfielder pick up the first yellow card of the match.
38'
That's a really nice moment for Balotelli, in front of his home fans. The Italy striker scored 26 goals for Nice this season, including 16 of them at this very venue - and it sounded like he got a bit of an applause there when he stepped up to take the free-kick.
36'
L. Bonucci has scored a goal for Italy!
ITALY HALVE THE DEFICIT! Balotelli wins the debate again as to who will take the free-kick, and he connects with a venomous strike that Lloris can only knock down, as opposed to parry, and like a shark who smells blood, Bonucci is there to pounce on the rebound to pull Italy back into the game!
35'
Big chance forthcoming for Italy! Balotelli takes matters into his own hands again as he goes on a clever little run before being hacked down on the edge of the penalty area by Umtiti. That's a clear free-kick for the visitors, in a position where they absolutely have to make something of it...
33'
The second France goal has sparked a bit of a response from Italy, but the visitors are just lacking quality when they get into the final third. They need to be a bit more direct, while their final ball could definitely do with some improving.
29'
Penalty goal scored by A. Griezmann for France!
NO MISTAKE FROM GRIEZMANN! France in complete control here as Griezmann tucks that effort just inside the post, out of the reach of Sirigu, who guessed right but couldn't get his hands to that perfect penalty.
27'
PENALTY TO FRANCE! Hernandez makes a lovely jaunt forward, bursting into the area with pace, before being shoved to ground by Mandragora! It wasn't as blatant as Hernandez made it look, but the referee doesn't hesitate in pointing to the spot! That's not how the Crotone midfielder will have envisioned his debut unfolding...
25'
WHISKERS AWAY! France haven't passed up many shooting opportunities in this match! Again though the inches work against them, as Mbappe guides an effort agonisingly wide of the top corner from 20 yards!
23'
This has been an excellent watch from a neutral perspective. It has not lacked in excitement, with both teams playing with a certain intensity often lacking in friendlies. France are working on ironing out the kinks ahead of the World Cup, while Italy have a point to prove having failed to qualify.
21'
WHAT A HIT! Not at all known for his scoring prowess, Kante shows off his shooting boots there, guiding a delicious effort off the woodwork from close to 30 yards! He got all of that, beating Sirigu, who looked as though he thought that was heading wide! He'll be breathing a sigh of relief.
17'
Balotelli tries to redeem himself as he goes on an encouraging run, finding a pocket of space in attack and hammering a strike at goal, but he just gets the contact wrong as it sails over the bar from 25 yards. That was struck with a lot of venom, though!
15'
STRAIGHT INTO THE WALL! Three Italian players stand over it, discussing who will take the free-kick. Balotelli wins the debate, but his final effort is a letdown as it doesn't get beyond the wall.
14'
Better, this, from Italy, as they enjoy a prolonged spell in the final third, asking questions of the France defence with their inquisitive passing. It results in a France foul, affording Italy a free-kick in a shooting position. They'll fancy their chances of making something of this...
12'
The hosts are full of running and Italy are struggling to cope. The high press of the French has resulted in some careless play from the visitors in defence, as they struggle to pass their way out - often playing themselves into trouble.
8'
S. Umtiti has scored a goal for France!
FRANCE OFF AND RUNNING IN NICE! That's been coming! Pressure builds following a lovely run from Mbappe to win a free-kick. Italy are unable to clear their lines and a delicious ball in for Mbappe at the far post is stopped wonderfully by Sirigu, but the keeper can do nothing to deny Umtiti on the rebound!
6'
Sirigu has to be quick off his line to snatch up a throughball intended for Dembele, on the end of a lovely bit of interplay from France. This has been an exciting start with both sides keen to push the tempo and get forward in attack.
4'
Now it's Italy's turn to enjoy a spell of possession, centre-back Leonardo Bonucci and goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu exchanging passes and easing into the contest.
2'
France have the first foray forward here, Benjamin Pavard swinging in a harmless cross from the right, with no white shirts inside the penalty area to get on the end of it.
1'
Referee Anthony Taylor blows his whistle and gets the game under way....
Hello and welcome to live commentary of the friendly international between France and Italy.
Mario Balotelli was a doubt for this game due to injury, but the striker has been passed fit and he leads the line again, having scored on his return from four years in international exile against Saudi Arabia. Leonardo Bonucci wears the armband, though, after Mancini suggested Balotelli could be a contender for the captaincy.
Let's bring you some team news ahead of kick-off.
Didier Deschamps has an embarrassment of riches available and he has named an exciting looking side that features Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele across the front. Benjamin Pavard gets a chance to make his case for World Cup selection at right-back, while Premier League stars Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante are in midfield. Olivier Giroud, so often a favourite of Deschamps, is only on the bench for this one.
Here's the France XI in full: Hugo Lloris; Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, Adil Rami, Samuel Umtiti; N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Corentin Tolisso; Ousmane Dembele,Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann.
And now let's bring you the Italy line-up: Salvatore Sirigu; Danilo D'Ambrosio, Mattia De Sciglio, Leonardo Bonucci, Mattia Caldara; Jorginho, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Rolando Mandragora; Domenico Berardi, Mario Balotelli, Federico Chiesa.
Here's the France subs: Olivier Giroud, Florian Thauvin, Steve Mandanda, Raphael Varane, Presnel Kimpembe, Steven N'Zonzi, Alphonse Areola, Thomas Lemar, Benjamin Mendy, Djibril Sidibe, Nabil Fekir, Blaise Matuidi.
And on the Italy bench: Alessandro Florenzi, Giacomo Bonaventura, Simone Zaza, Alessio Romagnoli, Andrea Belotti, Simone Verdi, Daniele Rugani, Matteo Politano, Lorenzo Insigne, Davide Zappacosta, Mattia Perin, Bryan Cristante.
STAT: This is the first meeting between France and Italy at international level since September 2016, when Didier Deschamps’ side won 3-1 in a friendly at the Stadio San Nicola in Bari
Don't tell these sides it's a friendly! An excellent game of football has broken out at the Allianz Riviera, making for an exciting watch through the opening 45 minutes. Samuel Umtiti opened the scoring for the hosts early on, and Antoine Griezmann added to their lead from the penalty spot, but a good response from the Azzurri saw them claw their way back into the game through Leonardo Bonucci, who pounced on the rebound from a Mario Balotelli free-kick. More of this after the break, please!
France are looking a finely tuned machine ahead of their Group C opener in a fortnight, as they win comfortably for a second time in five days. Samuel Umtiti and Antoine Griezmann got the hosts off to a flier before a stunner from Ousmane Dembele restored their two-goal lead after Leonardo Bonucci had pulled one back for the Azzurri in what was a highly energetic and entertaining match from Nice.
That's all for our live coverage, thanks for following along. Goodbye!
Commentary
More…