France v Ireland Prediction, Preview & Odds – Euro 2024 Qualifier

We have a France v Ireland prediction and preview plus betting odds for you ahead of Thursday’s huge UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifier in Paris.

France v Ireland Match Info

Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris, France

When? 7.45 pm, Thursday the 7^th of September

What Channel? RTÉ 2

France v Ireland Betting Odds

France are currently a huge favourite and can be currently gotten at 1/5 to win on Thursday, Ireland can be gotten at 14/1 while the draw is priced at 5/1.

The Form – France v Ireland

France’s Form

France’s form speaks for itself, in the last seven years they have been Euro 2016 runners-up, 2018 World Cup winners and 2022 World Cup runners-up.

Following their World Cup final defeat to Argentina in December they’ve been in rip-roaring form winning four from four matches, scoring nine goals and conceding none.

That run of form puts them six points clear at the top of UEFA Euro 2024 Qualifying Group B and they show very little signs of letting off.

With that said Ireland did give the French a run for their money when these teams met earlier in these qualifiers in Dublin. Despite this being a truly special French side littered with quality from back to front it took a late save from Maignan to break Irish hearts back in March after Mbappé was well-marshalled all game.

Ireland will do very well to replicate that performance in Paris this Thursday night.

This save gives me nightmares

pic.twitter.com/LJtED7cJm5

— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) September 4, 2023

Ireland’s Form

Ireland’s form under Stephen Kenny, particularly recently, has been a constant battle of seemingly going two steps forward and then three steps back. The Kenny In, Kenny Out debate rages on but if Ireland doesn’t pick up a point or more or at least put in a positive performance during this international window then it could be curtains for Kenny.

In 2023 Ireland opened the year with a 3-2 victory against Latvia, five days later they had achieved a sort of moral victory in the Aviva by narrowly losing 0-1 against World Cup runners-up France.

The most recent international window was another that brought question marks over Kenny’s credentials. This Irish side were outclassed tactically in a 2-1 defeat against Greece. They beat Gibraltar 3-0 in the final game of the window but made tough work of it given it took till the second half to score the game’s first goal.

With Evan Ferguson ruled out now even the most optimistic of Irish fans will be sceptical going into this game against France.

𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗱 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 | Ferguson ruled out of @EURO2024 qualifiers

The @OfficialBHAFC striker has been ruled out following an injury sustained in the win over Newcastle United

After an assessment from the Irish medical team, he has been ruled out of both matches pic.twitter.com/c7e5EJDgi5

— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 5, 2023

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France v Ireland Predicted Lineups

France Predicted XI

Formation: 4-2-3-1

GK: Maignan

RB: Pavard, CB: Koundé, CB: Upamecano, LB: Hernandez

CM: Tchouaméni, CM: Camavinga

RW: Coman, AM: Greizmann, LW: Mbappe

CF: Kolo Muani

Ireland Predicted XI

Formation: 3-4-2-1

GK: Bazunu

RCB: Collins, CB: Egan, LCB: O’Shea

RWB: Knight, CM Molumby, CM: Cullen, LWB: McClean

AM: Ogbene, AM Smallbone

CF: Idah

France v Ireland Preview

France’s Attack

Huge for France in this game will be their control in midfield coming from the likes of Rabiot, Tchouameni and Camavinga. In 2023 they have had the majority of possession in 3/4 of their games having 41% against The Netherlands, 66% against Ireland 82% against Gibraltar and 63% against Greece.

France have scored nine goals in their last four matches. Those goals came in a 4-0 win over the Netherlands in March (from 12 shots), a 0-1 win against Ireland (from 12 shots) a 0-3 win against Gibraltar (from 31 shots) and a 1-0 win against Greece (from 19 shots).

This side has arguably one of the most potent attacks in world football with Coman, Mbappé, Griezmann, Giroud, Kolo-Muani et al. Although it could be argued that their proficiency and attacking prowess statistically don’t quite match up to what you would expect it to on paper.

Ireland’s Defence

Ireland put in a colossal defensive effort last time these sides met in March. This time around they will need to do something similar to stand any chance. Ireland’s task has not been made any easier by the loss of captain Seamus Coleman through injury along with Matt Doherty through suspension.

From that Aviva defence, Bazunu will retain his spot in the team as will the defensive trio of Collins, Egan (if past fit) and Dara O’Shea.

The interesting decision will be the wing-back positions with Ebosele and Manning coming into the squad. But you can expect to see Jason Knight deployed deeper at RWB with McClean at LWB despite recent criticism of him for dropping down the leagues to sign for Wrexham.

Ireland’s Attack

How Stephen Kenny chooses to approach this game remains to be seen, but with the absence of Evan Ferguson (who would likely have posed our greatest threat), Kenny has a tactical issue on how Ireland can offer anything going forward.

Ireland will have very little position, so pace is going to be important on the break. Due to that I suspect Ogbene to be one of the attacking midfielders. The other could be Smallbone (with Knight at RWB) and he will be expected to drop into midfield when France are on the ball similar to what Knight did in Dublin.

Kenny is a big fan of Adam Idah and given Evan Ferguson’s absence I suspect he will be expected to lead the line with strength and pace. To his credit, he has scored a few for Norwich this season following a tough spell last season.

France’s Defence

France are yet to concede a goal in 2023 following a record of four consecutive clean sheets. They will prove to be very difficult to score against for an Irish side not the most potent in front of goal regardless of opposition and lacking it’s star striker.

France goalkeeper Maignan broke Irish hearts with a phenomenal save back in March to deny the Irish a point. If Ireland are to find a goal it’ll have to be against this world-class shot-stopper. Due to the injury of  Konaté, expect the match-winner from the Dublin game Pavard to come into the team.

Elsewhere with Pavard coming in at RB, Koundé will likely move from RB to CB to partner with Upamecano while the always-excellent Hernandez will be at LB.

France v Ireland Head-to-Head Results

Eighteen matches have taken place between France and Ireland. France has nine victories; five draws have taken place and Ireland has won four times.

But how have their last five games gone?

27 March 2023 | Euro 2024 Qualifier | Ireland 0-1 France

28 May 2018 | International Friendly | France 2-0 Ireland

26 June 2016 | Euro 2016 | France 2-1 Ireland

18 November 2009 | FIFA World Cup Playoff | France 1-1 Ireland AET

14 November 2009 | FIFA World Cup Playoff | Ireland 0-1 France

Some Tuesday Trivia for you all since it’s International Week!☘️

The last time Ireland beat France was on the 14th of October 1981 in a 3-2 victory!

53,000 attended the game in @LansdowneRD_IE but since then Ireland are winless in eight.

Due a win!🤞

📸:@Theleaguemag pic.twitter.com/O6JOd5LtX0

— Irish Football Blog (@BlogIrish) September 5, 2023

France v Ireland Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: France 2-1 Ireland

This seems an impossible task for Ireland, especially with the recent news that they will be without their young talisman Evan Ferguson due to injury. Stephen Kenny’s job has been a topic of speculation for weeks now and a heavy defeat here could mean curtains for Kenny.

As much as I’d love Ireland to shock the flying French, I think it is very unlikely given how strong this French side is, but I think Ireland could be spirited in defeat.

Best Bet: France By Exactly 1 Goal @ 14/5

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