France Team Preview Overview
France host Euro2016 and kick-off the tournament on day one of the competition. They have won the tournament twice and if you believe in mathematical sequences then you’ll have France booked in for this as their wins came 16 years apart in 1984 and 2000. It has been 16 years since their last win.
France go into this tournament off the back of a decent sequence of results but they will be looking to make up for a slightly disappointing World Cup where they were beaten by the eventual champions Germany in the quarter final.
A number of the squad on show in this tournament were on duty when the Paris Attacks took place in November and the spirit and determination to win this competition as a tribute to the victims can’t be underestimated. They go into the tournament as the betting favourites and looking at their squad that is a worthy position.
Statistics
Best Performance – Winners in 1984 & 2000
Previous Appearances – 8 (1960, 1984, 1992, 1996, 2000,2004, 2008 & 2012)
Qualified – Host
Qualifying Record
Didn’t need to qualify
Fixtures
France vs Romania – Friday 10th June, kickoff 20:00 at Stade de France, Paris
France vs Albania – Wednesday 15th June, kickoff 20:00 at Stade Vélodrome, Marseille
Switzerland vs France – Sunday 19th June, kickoff 20:00 at Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille
Squad
Manager: Didier Deschamps
Goalkeepers: Benoit Costil (Rennes), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Steve Mandanda (Marseille).
Defenders: Lucas Digne (Roma), Patrice Evra (Juventus), Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City), Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace), Lassana Diarra (Marseille), N’Golo Kante (Leicester), Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint-Germain), Paul Pogba (Juventus), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle).
Forwards: Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Tigres), Olivier Giroud (Arsenal), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Manchester United), Dimitri Payet (West Ham)
Betting
I look at this French squad and I see strength near enough in all the right areas and as such I’ve already backed them outright but it would be wrong of us to ignore the many markets priced up that are solely for France and indeed there are two bets I like.
The first comes in the form of the top goalscorer market where Antoine Griezmann is the favourite but I suspect he’ll be utilised from wider or deeper areas and as such I think there could be value elsewhere. If I was absolutely certain that Dimitri Payet would start I would chance him at a massive price but I’m not therefore there is only one alternative.
That is the Arsenal forward Olivier Giroud who it has to be said is pretty ordinary for his club but when he puts on an international jersey he really comes alive as he showed the week before this tournament when he bagged a brace against Scotland, his 16th and 17th international goals. Giroud will definitely hover in and around the penalty area and the creativity this French midfield provide should see him bag a few goals in this tournament, more than any of his teammates.
The other bet I like is for France to pick up nine points from their group. Romania and Albania should be turned over by a side expecting to win this tournament and by the time France play Switzerland in their final match both might well be through and France can express themselves and dominate that match too. I’d have the three win combo much nearer evens so to get it at 7/4 is great value.
Tips
Back O.Giroud Top France Tournament Goalscorer for a 2/10 stake at 4.50 with Ladbrokes
Back him here:
Back France to get 9 Group Points for a 3/10 stake at 2.75 with Skybet
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2016
