Slevchev has space on the right flank to whip a cross into the box, but he sends his delivery straight down Lloris' throat.
90' +2
France are holding firm at the back and appear to be on their way to holding out for the three points.
90' +1
O. Giroud gets yellow.
Giroud goes into the book late on.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time.
88'
Kraev skips past the challenge of Varane and tries to slide the ball towards Delev in the box, but Umtiti gets there ahead of the forward to clear the danger. An important challenge from the Barcelona defender.
87'
I. Dimitrov enters the game and replaces S. Manolev.
France break forward through Griezmann and he sends the ball to Giroud on the flank. He takes the ball into the corner before losing control and sending it out for a goal-kick.
Panov replaces Manolev for the home side.
85'
O. Giroud enters the game and replaces K. Mbappé.
Mbappe makes way for Giroud.
82'
Delev overhits the cross and it sails comfortably behind for a goal-kick to the visitors. The quality has not been there from Bulgaria in the final third.
80'
Delev raids down the left flank and gets clipped by Rabiot, although he goes down very easily. The forward will have the opportunity to swing the ball in from the wing.
78'
The stop-start nature of the contest is playing into the hands of Les Bleus as Bulgaria have not been allowed to build a sustained period of pressure since the early stages of the half. Time is running out for Hubchev's men.
Minute
Description
76'
D. Payet enters the game and replaces A. Lacazette.
Lacazette makes way for Payet.
Kostadinov and Sidibe collide down the left flank again, and the full-back lunges in with a challenge and wins the ball. The ball trickles out as the France defender pursues it, but the referee awards a goal-kick anyway much to the bemusement of the home side.
75'
Delev swings the ball into the box, but Mbappe is there to head away the danger inside the box.
74'
Sidibe bodychecks Kostadinov and avoids a booking, but Bulgaria have a free-kick down the left in a decent crossing position.
71'
France are soaking up the pressure at the back and are beginning to frustrate the home side.
69'
Bulgaria probe down the right, but Slavchev overhits his cross to the back post, easing the pressure on the visitors.
67'
G. Kostadinov gets yellow.
Kostadinov goes into the book for catching Sidibe late.
66'
Griezmann releases Lacazette into the final third, but the forward dwells on the ball and his eventual offload to his team-mate is intercepted, despite him getting a second opportunity in the box.
63'
Digne sends a cross into the box and Lacazette tries to make a nuisance of himself in front of Iliev and stops the keeper from claiming the ball, but the home side clear nonetheless.
62'
B. Kraev gets yellow.
Kraev slides in late on Varane and this time he goes into the book.
60'
Digne breaks down the left and whips a cross into the box, but his delivery floats over the head of Lacazette in the six-yard box.
58'
The control France had in the first half in their possession game has vanished. Bulgaria are dominating in the middle of the park at the moment.
56'
OFFSIDE! Lacazette and Sidibe combine in the final third, but Mbappe is in an offside position as he scuffs his strike from the full-back's cross. The forward will be relieved to see the flag raised as that was a shocking miss.
55'
Varane is put under pressure at the back as he allows a long ball forward sail over his head, but he holds his composure under stress from Delev.
54'
Tolisso is caught again on the ball in the middle of the park and he reacts furiously to the challenge from Kraev, but the referee keeps his cards in his pocket on this occasion.
52'
CLOSE! Nedelev swings a cross into the box from the right, but Delev in the middle just cannot make contact on the stretch. The home side are putting France under pressure here.
51'
P. Zanev gets yellow.
Zanev is booked for his challenge on Tolisso. A harsh one for the full-back.
50'
Tolisso goes down in a heap on the sideline following a challenge from Zanev. He requires treatment before we can continue.
49'
SCRAMBLE! A free-kick causes havoc in the box for the visitors, but neither Kostadinov nor Delev are able to get a shot away. Bulgaria keep the attack alive, but Kraev sends his effort from the edge of the box wide of the post.
48'
B. Kraev enters the game and replaces A. Galabinov.
The intensity from the home side has been much better at the start of the second half. Hubchev will be looking for more from his team.
Galabinov makes way for Kraev, which must be injury related.
46'
We're back underway in Sofia.
WIDE! France lose possession straight from the kick-off and Kostadinov surges down the right before cutting in to strike on his left foot, only to see his effort sail wide of the target. Les Bleus cannot afford to be sloppy this evening.
45' +1
The referee ends the first half.
45'
There will be one minute of added time.
OVER! Griezmann's effort strikes the wall, but the ball rebounds into the path of Mbappe. He takes it into space in the left inside channel, but blasts his effort over the bar.
44'
Kostadinov blocks off Rabiot on the edge of the box as the midfielder attempted to latch on to Lacazette's pass. Griezmann has a great opportunity to test lliev here.
42'
Bulgaria have improved as the half has progressed, but France are still holding the monopoly of the ball.
40'
Griezmann sends a better delivery into the box from a corner from the right, but Iliev comes off his line and just manages to punch the ball to safety.
39'
Hubchev's men are able to clear the danger from the forward's cross into the box. The Atletico Madrid man has not been at his clinical best thus far.
38'
France ease the strain on their defence as Mbappe wins a free-kick on the left flank in an advanced position. Griezmann will have an opportunity to send the ball into the box.
37'
CHANCES! Lloris makes a terrible error as he spills Nedelev shot at goal and it allows Kostadinov an opening from close range. However, Lloris atones for his mistake as he dives to his right to make an outstanding stop to keep the ball out from his header. The opportunity is still there for the hosts as Galabinov is denied before Slevchev hammers over from the edge of the box. Drama.
34'
A. Rabiot enters the game and replaces N. Kanté.
Worrying scene for Chelsea as Kante is forced off with a hamstring injury. Rabiot replaces him for Les Bleus.
32'
Sidibe hits the deck on the right flank and rolls out of play after being caught by a stray arm from Manolev.
31'
Bulgaria win a free-kick and they attempt to take it quickly as Galabinov surges towards the edge of the box, but the referee brings them back to the spot of the original foul.
29'
CHANCE! Bozhikov saves his side from going two goals down as Mbappe releases Lacazette in the box. The striker looks poised to fire the ball past Iliev from close range, but the defender comes across with a last-ditch block to divert his strike wide of the post.
28'
Griezmann fires the ball low towards the penalty spot, but there are enough white shirts there to stop his delivery from reaching a team-mate, allowing the home side to clear.
27'
Zanev brings down Sidibe on the flank and the referee awards France a free-kick in a decent position. Griezmann will take the set-piece.
26'
WIDE! Griezmann is played into space down the right from Mbappe's cross and is afforded time as Zanev slips in the box. The striker goes for the effort on the half-volley, but his attempt drifts just past the post.
25'
Tolisso collects Sidibe's pass into the right flank and he attempts to send a cross towards the near post, but Iliev gathers with ease.
23'
The tempo has dropped in France's approach over the last five minutes, with the home side attempting to force Les Bleus into the channels.
21'
Bulgaria may have to alter their tactics as their four-man midfield is being bypassed with ease by the visitors.
19'
WIDE! Lacazette creates space on the edge of the box and he lays the ball into the path of Tolisso to strike, but the Bayern Munich man pull his effort wide of the post.
17'
France have not allowed the home side to settle this evening. Every wave of attack from Les Bleus looks threatening.
15'
SAVE! Mbappe drifts into space on the left and Kante feeds him on the surge. The striker drives into the box, fending off the challenge of Bodurov, but his strike towards the near post is well saved by Iliev.
14'
Sidibe raids down the right and he sends a low cross towards the near post from the byline. Iliev fails to handle the ball first time, but is fortunate as the ball falls kindly for him to gather at the second attempt.
13'
Bulgaria build down the right and Popov has space to swing a cross into the box, but he overhits the ball and it heads out for a goal-kick.
11'
Digne goes on the charge down the left to collect Matuidi's throughball down the channel, but Bodurov makes an important block to stop his low cross.
10'
Conditions are not the best in Sofia this evening with rain in the air, which has made for a difficult playing surface.
9'
S. Slavchev gets yellow.
Slavchev pulls back Mbappe on the charge and goes into the book.
7'
France are building a solid period of possession in the Bulgaria half to frustrate the home side as they search for a quick response to going behind.
5'
Delev goes for the strike from distance, but Umtiti is on hand to divert the ball out for a corner.
3'
B. Matuidi has scored a goal for France! Assist by A. Griezmann.
Griezmann steers the ball into the path of Matuidi, who finds the net from the left inside channel.
GOALLLLLLLL!!!! FRANCE TAKE AN EARLY LEAD! Matuidi puts Les Bleus in front with a fine strike from close range. The visitors built down the left and Griezmann steered the ball into the midfielder's path. There was still plenty of work to do, but Matuidi manage to find space from a tight angle to lift his shot into the top corner. A super effort from the Juventus midfielder.
1'
We're underway in Sofia.
Sweden's victory over Luxembourg has seen them leapfrog Didier Deschamps' men at the top of Group A. France need a point at the least to keep themselves within striking distance going into the final round of matches otherwise they could be forced to go through the play-offs.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the World Cup qualifying clash between Bulgaria and France.
Bulgaria can put themselves into contention for a play-off place with a victory tonight. They are five points adrift of France in second place in Group A, but win would take them into striking distance ahead of their final match against Luxembourg on the road.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
Bulgaria have made five changes from their defeat to the Netherlands last time out. Nikolay Bodurov, Simeon Slavchev, Todor Nedelev, Spas Delev and Andrej Galabinov come into the side this evening in an expected 4-4-2 formation.
France have made five changes from their goalless draw against Luxembourg. Raphael Varane, Lucas Digne, Corentin Tolisso, Blaise Matuidi and Alexandre Lacazette all come into the fold.
France are in dire need of a response this evening after their shocking result against Luxembourg last time out. Les Bleus drew 0-0 against the minnows on home soil, putting their hopes of qualifying automatically for the World Cup in jeopardy.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
FLASHBACK! France beat Bulgaria 4-1 in their meeting in the Stade de France last year. A brace from Kevin Gameiro along with strikes from Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann guided Les Bleus to the victory after Mihail Aleksandrov had put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot.
HALF-TIME: BULGARIA 0-1 FRANCE
France hold a 1-0 lead over Bulgaria at the break thanks to Blaise Matuidi's strike in the third minute. Les Bleus have been the better of the two sides, although Antoine Griezmann could have doubled their lead, only to fire wide of the post. Bulgaria's best opening of the half came through a mistake from Hugo Lloris, but he atoned for his mistake by making a fine save to deny Georgi Kostadinov from close range. The match remains evenly poised at the interval.
The players are back out for the second half, so we should be underway shortly.
FULL-TIME: BULGARIA 0-1 FRANCE
Blaise Matuidi's strike in the third minute had guide France to an important victory in their quest to qualify automatically for the World Cup. Sweden had put the pressure on earlier in the day, but Les Bleus take control of top spot in Group A with the three points, bouncing back from their disappointing draw against Luxembourg last time out. Bulgaria had a couple of decent openings in the game, but were not good enough in the final third to earn a share of the spoils.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
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