France vs. Ireland: preview and betting tips

For the second time this year, the hitherto dominant French national team will face an Ireland team that will be missing its biggest star, Evan Ferguson. However, the first match was certainly nothing clear-cut from France, who will still be overwhelming favourites.

The French have been sailing through the Euro 2024 qualifiers very sovereignly so far, with 12 points after 4 matches. What’s more, they have not scored once and it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon.

They have scored 9 goals in 4 matches so far, 6 of which were scored by Kylian Mbappé (4+2). His first game in the qualifiers can be appreciated the most, when he scored two goals against the Netherlands and assisted Giroud on the opening one.

It’s definitely not possible to talk about Ireland in superlatives, although the results were certainly no disgrace: 1: 0 against France, 2: 1 against Greece and the obligatory win against Gibraltar. The Netherlands, however, still have a way to go.

Moreover, they will miss Ferguson, currently the biggest star of the national team, who is doing great in Brighton, for both of the following matches due to injury. He scored a hat-trick against Newcastle in the last game.

In this century, the two teams have met 7 times, with France winning 5 times and two games ending in draws (after 90 minutes). In the spring, the French team was logically the dominant team on the field, but in terms of shots on goal, the Irish were certainly not behind.

A similar picture can be expected now. In fact, out of the already mentioned 7 duels, only once did the French win by more than one goal. On defense, coach Stephen Kenny’s squad will be back, even more so when they are missing a key striker.

Still, I believe in the form of Mbappé and co. who should win. The Irish are definitely a weaker team away than at home, so goals can be expected. France are in good shape given their previous 4 successes, and so are their players, which should carry over onto the pitch.

Betting tip | Over 2.5 at odds of 1.7