LIVE REPORT: France vs Republic of Ireland

1959 GMT: France are in their traditional blue kit while the visiting Irish are in white shirts with green shorts.

1959 GMT: The Irish players and fans belt out Soldiers Song – the French reply with a stirring rendition of Marseillaise and we’re ready to go – 90 minutes (or more) to book a ticket for South Africa

1956 GMT: Expectant French fans wave their tricolor flags in the stadium as the players file out onto the pitch for this crucial game.

1954 GMT: French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, who has a Welsh wife, has just taken up his seat – big smiles all around

1952 GMT: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who is an analyst for French broadcaster TF1 says: “All the pressure is on the Irish – they just have to score to survive and that can open up gaps for the French .

1934 GMT: France go into this World Cup play-off second leg in Paris with a 1-0 advantage from Saturday’s first leg at Croke Park in Dublin when Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka’s deflected second-half strike divided the sides.

The Republic of Ireland will have to win at the Stade de France tonight to book their place at the World Cup in South Africa next year and will need no extra motivation after the angry exchanges between rival players at the end of the first game.

Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni and Tottenham forward Robbie Keane have said they are confident they can overturn the 1-0 deficit — even though Ireland have not won in Paris since 1937.

Our man in Paris says the weather is mild and playing conditions look perfect. Thousands of green-clad Irish fans heading for the Stade in hope more than expectation. Between 12,000 and 15000 of them are estimated to have tickets — not quite the invasion the French feared but enough to make themselves heard.

The French are quietly confident at least on the surface but a quick strike for Ireland could see them reaching for the panic button.

Teams:

France: Lloris – Sagna, Gallas, Escude, Evra – A.Diarra, L.Diarra – Anelka, Gourcuff, Henry (cap.) – Gignac

Republic of Ireland: Given – O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane – Lawrence, Andrews, Whelan, Duff – Doyle, Keane (cap.)