Group E favourites France start their World Cup campaign with what should be an easy game against the weakest sides in the group, but things are rarely as straightforward at these kinds of tournaments.

After holding England to a goalless draw in their final warm-up match, Honduras will attempt to do something similar against les Bleus.

Having crashed out in group stage at Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010, France made it one step further at Euro 2012, having reached the quarter-finals before they were eliminated by Spain.

Les Bleus have since showed some improvement, with Didier Deschamps’ charges overcoming a 2-0 defeat to Ukraine in the play-off first leg to win the return match 3-0 and qualify for the tournament in Brazil.

The former Marseille boss has since raised quite a few eyebrows by leaving Samir Nasri out of his final squad, before the likes of Franck Ribery, Steve Mandanda and Clement Grenier were forced to withdraw due to injury.

France, nonetheless, recorded two big wins against Norway and Jamaica, while sharing spoils with Paraguay, and they do seem ready for the tournament finals.

Given that Honduras appear to be the weakest side in Group E, it is hardly surprising les Bleus have been made 1.36 (4/11) favourites to claim maximum points.

Despite scoring three goals in the warm-up fixture, Olivier Giroud, who has recovered from a hamstring problem, is likely to be left on the bench, with Antoine Griezmann expected to start.

Mathieu Debuchy returns from a thigh problem, while Paul Pogba will also be recalled to the starting line-up, with Moussa Sissoko set to make way.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Lloris – Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra – Pogba, Cabaye, Matuidi – Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann.

Honduras did well to qualify for their second successive World Cup and only third in total, having pipped very good Mexico side to the third place in the CONCACAF zone of the World Cup qualifiers.

Qualifying victories over Mexico and Costa Rica are enough to suggest La Bicolor fully deserve their place at the tournament finals, but no doubt they face an uphill task in Group E.

Honduras were far from impressive in the build up to the major tournament, suffering comfortable defeats to Turkey and Israel, although they did show improvement to play out a goalless draw with England.

Coach Luis Fernando Suarez hopes his charges will be able to repeat an excellent defensive showing against France, but odds of 3.50 (5/2) offered on La Bicolor not to lose show the size of the task ahead of them.

The boss has no fresh injury worries ahead of the clash against Les Bleus, with UK-based Figueroa, Palacios, Espinoza and Izaguirre the men to watch.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Valladares – Beckeles, Bernandez, Figueroa, Izaguirre – Chavez, Palacios, Garrido, Espinoza – Costly, Bengtson.