France vs Republic of Ireland
Didier Deschamps’ France kick on their World Cup 2018 preparations with a home fixture against the Republic of Ireland in a game which has plenty of bite and a lively history.
Football Odds overwhelmingly tell us this should be a comfortable home win. The Republic aren’t even on the way to the World Cup finals in Russia after losing a play-off to Denmark, but they are arriving on the back of two defeats with hopes to avoid a third. And Martin O’Neill’s men will remember all too well the controversial way France beat them back in 2009.
Talking Points
When they get to Russia, Les Bleus will face Ireland’s conquerors, Denmark, along with Peru and Australia at Group C, and Deschamps’ team should certainly progress. He has bags of talent at his disposal as well as a spirit in the camp which hasn’t always been there. Antoine Griezmann is among the best strikers in World Football, terrorizing La Liga defences for Atletico Madrid., He’ll be a real handful alongside PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.
In N’Golo Kante, Deschamps probably has the world’s most consistent midfield performer with an engine that just keeps on running for 90 minutes and beyond. Kante’s a special player: he was the key to Leicester City’s 2016 Premier League success and has improved further at Chelsea. Hugo Lloris has worn the keeper’s jersey with calm assurance at the back, but he’ll be concerned to be without the Injured Laurent Koscielny in front of him.
Deschamps’ star midfielder Paul Pogba needs to put behind him the irritations of a trophy-less season at Old Trafford, in a campaign where he was all-too-often sidelined or hooked by his manager, Jose Mourinho. Pogba is irresistible at his best, with strength and guile in equal measures. If he features against Ireland, he could have a field day.
The Republic of Ireland suffered a heartbreaking defeat in the qualifying play-offs against Denmark, as Spurs’ Christian Eriksen blew them away with a stunning hat-trick. The men in green had done well to finish second in a tough group, seeing off Wales, to just fall at the final hurdle. Before the home loss to Denmark, a 0-0 draw in Copenhagen was their sixth consecutive away game without defeat.
O’Neill has missed Burnley’s exciting wing talent Robbie Brady, including his dead ball skills, while the injured Brady’s team-mate, Jeff Hendrick, provides strength in midfield. And the towering presence of Shane Duffy at the heart of defence means the Irish are rarely a pushover.
It needs a talent like Eriksen to rip them apart. But then, France does have Griezmann, M’Bappe and Pogba!
History
There is more history in this fixture than some in Ireland would care to remember!
While Les Bleus have won three and drawn two of the last five meetings, one, in particular, sticks in the mind…
The Republic was a quarter of an hour away from a penalty shoot-out in a 2009 World Cup play-off with France, when Thierry Henry handled the ball into the net to give his team a victory. Everyone in the stadium could see what happened, and those of us watching at home thought the French striker was playing basketball! So outrageous was it that the world governing body, FIFA, had one heck of a job to calm down the Irish.
Thierry Henry remains France’s top scorer with 51, or 50 if you’re Irish. How they would love to put one over on the French, even in a friendly. But Didier’s boys will shrug it off, of course. They just want to get back to the heady days of 1998 when they last won the World Cup.
What are the Odds?
France made hard work of qualifying, but have since won two, drawn one and lost one, including an impressive 1-3 win in Russia. The Republic’s recent disappointment and form make the French big favourites.
Our handicap betting offer has Les Bleus at 1.92 with a -1.75 goal handicap and the Irish at 2.00 with that start.
Duffy will have his work cut out to keep out France’s attacking talent, and so over 2.50 goals is available at 1.86 while under is 2.04.
A 2-0 home win is tight at 4.50, with 3-0 offering 6.00.
And, looking forward to July, France are third favourites to win the World Cup at 7.00. We could see just how likely that looks on Monday.
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