Describing the hosts as "probably the best team in the world", the Scotland manager said he would make "a number of changes" to his team for the friendly in Lille.

"They will be determined to do well," said Clarke.

"Everybody has to show between now and the summer that they can be part of the squad going to the championship."

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Both nations booked their places in Germany next summer over the past few days. France, last year's World Cup finalists and number two in the Fifa rankings with a 100% record from six games, and Scotland with five wins from their six outings.

"I'm very proud to be head coach of these players because they have consistently delivered for their country," said Clarke.

"It is fantastic for them to be at a second major finals after such a long barren period. It's been pretty much the same core group and they deserve every bit of praise that they get.

"The last time we qualified for the Euros it was through the play-off system. It felt a little bit like sneaking in the back door.

"This time we can walk straight in the front door with our heads held high and look forward to a good tournament."

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Scotland suffered their first defeat of the campaign in Spain last week, having been beaten by England at Hampden in a September friendly.

"We don't want to lose three in a row," said Clarke. "I expect a good showing but it's a big ask against a top team. Whatever eleven they start, it will be a tough test.

"We want to get better and I'm a believer that to get better you have to challenge yourself against the best.

"It might mean that we lose, like we did against England and Spain, but we were competitive in those games and the more competitive you are against the better teams means we will improve.

"Momentum we can build in the remaining group matches next month [Georgia away, Norway at home]. It would be nice to finish with two more wins and finish on the same points tally as Spain."

On the prospect of facing Paris St-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe, Clarke said: "We'll give him as much respect as we can and obviously try to stop him. We won't have any special man-marking. We have our system and hopefully that is enough to control his threat."

Analysis
BBC Scotland's Liam McLeod

This friendly in the north-eastern city of Lille arguably represents the toughest test of Steve Clarke's Scotland side since the manager took the helm.

France have contested the last two World Cup finals and were a penalty shoot-out away from defending the trophy before succumbing to a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina in Qatar last year.

There is no tougher challenge in Europe right now than a visit to face France who, along with England, are favourites to win Euro 2024.

Didier Deschamps has the luxury of leaving out almost a full squad who would walk into most international teams - and the ones he has selected are some of the world's best.

Three of Les Bleus' five all-time top scorers could face the Scots in Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Olivier Giroud. Mbappe is arguably the best player in the world while Giroud tops the charts for the French having usurped Thierry Henry at the World Cup.

The question is how many changes Deschamps makes to his team as they have also sealed qualification for Germany - secured when they defeated the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday.

This game is important to Clarke, who is very keen that his side become competitive against the best sides with next summer's finals and Nations League A campaign around the corner. Challenges don't come much bigger than France on home soil.

Team news
Scotland have been hit hard in the full-back areas, with captain Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey withdrawing, while Kieran Tierney was already absent through injury.

That means a first call-up for Sturm Graz teenager Max Johnston, who is promoted from the under-21s squad.

Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Jack pulled out of the squad before the 2-0 defeat in Spain.

Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate and Marseille right-back Jonathan Clauss have been recalled by France. Arsenal defender William Saliba is out with a toe problem.

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Scotland 'a beautiful team'
Scotland defender Jack Hendry: "We're in a really good place at the moment but we want to continue building on what we've done so far. These games against top opposition will help us do that. We'll learn from it and take the experience into next summer."

France head coach Didier Deschamps: "We are going to be playing against a team that has also qualified. They are maybe not on the top of their group but they have qualified so well done to them because they deserve it.

"They won five games in a row and although they lost their last match against Spain it was a tight match. It is a beautiful team.

"It is a friendly but it's the same situation as last month when we played a qualifier, which was the most important game, and then a friendly (defeat to Germany). We want to try and be coherent."

MATCH STATS
Scotland were last in France for a 3-0 friendly defeat in June 2016.
In 16 meetings overall there has never been a draw, with eight victories each.
The last competitive games came in Euro 2008 qualifying, Scotland winning 1-0 home and away.
Scotland have won just two of their past 16 friendlies (D4 L10) although both victories came away from home (Hungary in March 2018 & Luxembourg in June 2021).
After winning five Euro qualifiers in a row between March and September, Scotland have now lost back-to-back against England and Spain. They've not lost three in a row since a run of four between June and October 2019.
Scott McTominay has six goals and one assist in his past seven games for Scotland.
With 25 goals and nine assists, Kylian Mbappe has been involved in 34 goals in his past 23 appearances for France.