France vs. Israel: Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

When France hosts Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday evening, they will be hoping to top League A Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League.

Thanks to goals from Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku, Matteo Guendouzi, and Bradley Barcola, Les Bleus won 4-1 away in the reverse match hosted in Budapest last month.

Previous Matches and Head-to-head

France had picked up a maximum of nine points from their past three group games after losing 3-1 at home to Italy in their inaugural Nations League fixture; their triumph above over Israel sits between two triumphs over Belgium.

With Didier Deschamps's men clinging on for three priceless points despite playing the final 14 minutes plus stoppage time with ten men, Randal Kolo Muani was on target in Les Bleus's 2-0 home victory over Belgium in September and then scored twice against the Red Devils in a 2-1 away triumph last month.

FIFA ranks France second in the world. 2021 Nations League champions France now sit second in League A Group 2 and are only one point behind leaders Italy, whom they will meet in their possibly pivotal last encounter in Milan on Sunday.

If France avoids losing against Israel on Thursday and Belgium fails to emerge on top in their last group game with Italy, France will guarantee their place in the Nations League quarter-finals. But should Belgium defeat Italy and France lose, the latter will still be vulnerable to joining the relegation playoffs.

The host side enters Thursday's match with Israel, having not lost any of their seven previous encounters with the Sky-Blue and Whites in all competitions. Though they most recently staged a goalless draw at the Stade de France in a World Cup qualifier back in September 2004, they have only enjoyed success in two of their four home games.

Against a background of heightened tension brought on by the continuing war in Gaza, there were some questions about Israel's match with France after the horrifying images of violence that erupted in Amsterdam last week between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv fans.

The National Security Council has recommended Israelis avoid cultural and sports events in European nations, especially France. At the same time, they should also be "extra careful about concealing" anything that may identify them as Jewish. Notwithstanding this, Thursday's game is set to take place in Paris, and hundreds of additional police will be on duty; French President Emmanuel Macron will also be present at the Stade de France in a show of "fraternity and solidarity."

Amidst national off-field issues, Israel has had a challenging Nations League campaign as predicted against Italy, France, and Belgium; they have also suffered four losses from four games, thus anchored to the foot of League A Group 2.

Should Belgium defeat Italy on Thursday or lose to France on Thursday, the Sky-Blue and Whites would be demoted to League B; their only chance of survival is to win their two remaining games, one against Belgium on Sunday, and thus negotiate the relegation playoff.

Ranked 81st in the world by FIFA, Ran Ben Shimon's side has been used for some time to play away from their native country; as they travel to Paris on Thursday, they will surely remember their only prior triumph in France - a 3-2 victory in World Cup qualifying back in October 1993, with Deschamps playing in France's midfield that day.

France x Israel Team News

While Wesley Fofana, Loic Bade, and Aurelien Tchouameni are all sidelined with injuries, the latter is also suspended following his red card against Belgium last time out. France boss Deschamps has once more chosen not to pick Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, insisting that his absence "is for the best."

While Al Ittihad's N'Golo Kante and Marseille's Adrien Rabiot have both returned to Deschamps's squad, and at least one of them could start in central midfield alongside Eduardo Camavinga, highly-rated Lille goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier has earned his first senior international call-up, but he is not expected to replace Mike Maignan between the sticks.

While Ousmane Dembele, Michael Olise, and Bradley Barcola might all be chosen to assist in Mbappe's absence, Kolo Muani has scored four goals in his past four outings for France and could remain the center striker.

Regarding Israel, Dor Turgeman has been forced to leave the team due to injury, and Omri Glazer is also missing. Nevertheless, captain Eli Dasa has returned after a time on the sidelines, and the 64-cap defender will be vying to start at either right-back or center-back.

Although Manor Solomon has also returned following an injury, it is unclear whether the Tottenham Hotspur winger on loan at Leeds United will be included back into the first XI ahead of either Oscar Gloukh or Omri Gandelman. The latter scored in the reverse fixture against France.

Either Yoav Gerafi or Bayern Munich's Daniel Peretz is poised to start between the sticks in the absence of goalkeeper Glazer; Dor Peretz, Gavriel Kanichowitz, Mohammad Abu Fani, and Mahmoud Jaber will all be fighting for starts in central midfield.

Our Predictions

France to win and over 2.5 goals @ 1.40 on Sky247.ng

Having scored in all four Nations League games so far, Israel will value their chances of finding the net on Thursday; however, they may be happier against France this time around.

Les Bleus will definitely be a solid favorite to win this game, and we are supporting a Mbappe-less team that will earn all three points on home ground safely.

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