France faces Azerbaijan in a 2026 World Cup qualifier with little at stake, having already secured their spot in the finals. This presents an opportunity for coach Didier Deschamps to experiment with his squad and give younger players a chance to shine.
France's Unbeaten Run and Azerbaijan's Struggles
Azerbaijan, on the other hand, has had a disastrous qualifying campaign, sitting at the bottom of Group D with only two goals scored. Their recent form is poor, with a 14-game winless streak. France is unbeaten in six matches, making them clear favorites for this encounter.
A New-Look France Team
Deschamps is expected to field a relatively inexperienced lineup, potentially resting key players like Kylian Mbappe. This allows emerging talents like Ekitike, Barcola, and Cherki to showcase their abilities on the international stage. The starting eleven might feature players with limited international goals, a departure from the era of Giroud, Mbappe, and Benzema.
- Goalkeeper: Knight
- Defense: Gusto, Konaté, Lucas Hernandez, Théo Hernandez
- Midfield: Zaire-Emery, Thuram
- Attack: Akliouche, Nkunku, Ekitike, Mateta
Tactical Preview
While Azerbaijan will be looking to salvage some pride in front of their home fans, France's focus will be on evaluating their squad depth and identifying players who can contribute to their World Cup campaign. The match is likely to be a comfortable victory for France, even with a rotated squad.
Ghanaian Betting Tips
For Ghanaian bettors, consider these tips:
- France -2 (Handicap 3-Way): Odds of 1.80 with Betway
- France to win 1-0, 2-0 or 3-0 (Multiscores): Odds of 2.60 with Betway
- Under 1.5 goals (1st Half Total Goals): Odds of 1.85 with Betway