France to face Russia as part of Euro 2016 prep

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The French national team applaud the crowd at Stade de France. (Thibault Camus/AP)

PARIS — France will host Russia next year in a friendly at the Stade de France as part of its preparations for the 2016 European Championship.

It will be the sixth meeting between the two nations, their first since a goalless draw in 2002. The game will be played on March 25, four days after France travels to the Netherlands in another friendly.

As host, France is automatically qualified for Euro 2016 and must rely on friendly matches to get ready for the tournament.

Didier Deschamps’s team plays Portugal in Lisbon on Friday before hosting Serbia in Bordeaux three days later.

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