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.
When? 7.45 pm, Thursday the 7th of September
What Channel? RTÉ 2
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.
https://twitter.com/BlogIrish/status/1698802111482310946?s=20
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.
https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1699009209944113383?s=20
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GK: Maignan
RB: Pavard, CB: Koundé, CB: Upamecano, LB: Hernandez
CM: Tchouaméni, CM: Camavinga
RW: Coman, AM: Greizmann, LW: Mbappe
CF: Kolo Muani
GK: Bazunu
RCB: Collins, CB: Egan, LCB: O'Shea
RWB: Knight, CM Molumby, CM: Cullen, LWB: McClean
AM: Ogbene, AM Smallbone
CF: Idah
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.
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 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 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.
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
https://twitter.com/BlogIrish/status/1698989579183792188?s=20
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
Click Below For All Our France v Ireland Betting Odds
*Prices Subject To Fluctuation
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France v Ireland Match Info
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris, FranceWhen? 7.45 pm, Thursday the 7th 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.| France v Ireland Betting Odds - Euro 2024 Qualifier | ||
| Team | Odds | Chance |
| France | 1/5 | 83.3% |
| Ireland | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| The Draw | 5/1 | 16.7% |
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.
https://twitter.com/BlogIrish/status/1698802111482310946?s=20
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.
https://twitter.com/IrelandFootball/status/1699009209944113383?s=20
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France v Ireland Predicted Lineups
France Predicted XI
Formation: 4-2-3-1GK: 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: 3-4-2-1GK: 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
https://twitter.com/BlogIrish/status/1698989579183792188?s=20
France v Ireland Prediction & Best Bet
Prediction: France 2-1 IrelandThis 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
Click Below For All Our France v Ireland Betting Odds
*Prices Subject To Fluctuation
Remember, always gamble responsibly. Here’s our Safer Gambling Guide.