France head into this clash as one of the biggest names in world football yet the recent 1-2 loss to Ivory Coast has left fans across the country scratching their heads. After a mixed European Championship the team had strung together an impressive run of eight wins and one draw in nine outings with the attack firing at least twice in every game including a thumping 4-0 win over Ukraine. The boys will be desperate to put things right on home soil and show they can still dominate against lesser opposition.
Team Form
- France remain unbeaten for nearly a year across all competitions before the Ivory Coast setback
- Northern Ireland picked up a morale boosting 1-0 win over Guinea but their away record stays poor with just one victory in the last ten outings against Luxembourg
- France have never faced Northern Ireland in the modern era with all eight previous meetings dating back to the last century ending in five wins and three draws for the hosts
Tactical Analysis
Expect France to dominate possession and push men forward from the first whistle with their star attackers looking to atone for the surprise defeat. Northern Ireland will likely sit deep and rely on counter attacks though their limited quality at this level makes it tough for them to create clear chances. The home side strengths lie in their fluid midfield and clinical finishing while the visitors weaknesses include a lack of pace at the back and struggles on the road.
Betting Proposal
Given the quality gap and the need for France to respond in style a big home win looks the most likely outcome. The visitors have shown little ability to trouble top European sides and their defensive issues should be exposed repeatedly. France to win by three goals or more with the handicap line at 2.03 offers great value for punters looking at this fixture.
Overall this matchup gives the French a perfect chance to regain confidence ahead of bigger tests while Northern Ireland will fight hard but probably fall short against superior firepower and organisation on the night.
