Ben Arfa and M'Vila get first Euro starts

KIEV (AFP) –

French midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa (L) jokes with French midfielder Marvin Martin during a training session at the training center in Kircha on June 16, during the Euro 2012 football championships. Ben Arfa and Yann M’Vila were handed their first starts by France coach Laurent Blanc for their crucial final Euro 2012 Group D game against already eliminated Sweden here on Tuesday.

Hatem Ben Arfa and Yann M’Vila were handed their first starts by France coach Laurent Blanc for their crucial final Euro 2012 Group D game against already eliminated Sweden here on Tuesday.

Ben Arfa and M’Vila come in for France’s two goalscorers from their 2-0 win over Ukraine last Friday, Yohan Cabaye and Jeremy Menez.

Cabaye, Ben Arfa’s Newcastle team-mate, has been struggling with a sore thigh, while Menez was booked in the Ukraine game and another booking here would see him suspended for the quarter-final provided France get the draw they need.

The Swedes, who have lost their first two games, made two changes as well to their line-up with midfielder Emir Bajrami and striker Ola Toivonen coming in for injured duo Rasmus Elm and Johan Elmander respectively.

France presently top the group on goal difference from England, who play co-hosts Ukraine in Donetsk where the Ukrainians, who have three points and are a point adrift of the top two, have to win to ensure they go through.

Sweden

Andreas Isaksson, Andreas Granqvist, Olof Mellberg, Jonas Olsson, Martin Olsson, Sebastian Larsson, Anders Svensson, Kim Kallstrom, Emir Bajrami, Zlatan Ibrahimovic (capt), Ola Toivonen

Coach: Erik Hamren

France

Hugo Lloris (capt); Mathieu Debuchy, Adil Rami, Philippe Mexes, Gael Clichy; Alou Diarra, Yann M’Vila, Samir Nasri; Hatem Ben Arfa, Franck Ribery Karim Benzema

Coach: Laurent Blanc

Referee: Pedro Proenca Oliveira Alves Garcia (POR)