Azerbaijan arrive at Parc des Princes on Friday evening to take on France for a key World Cup qualifier.
The match, scheduled for a 19:45 kick off, will be the second meeting between the two nations and could be a key match in France’s pursuit of World Cup qualification. Can France continue their 100% record in Group D or will Azerbaijan pull off one of the biggest shocks in the competition’s history?
Best bets and predictions
France are the clear favourites coming into this tie and top Group D, having won both of their games in the competition, so far. Azerbaijan haven’t won in 12 games and we’re confident that this poor run will continue against a French side that should be winning by multiple goals.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| France -6 | 4/1 @ BetMGM (20%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | France come into this game on a run of seven wins in their last 10 games. During this period they’ve scored 21 goals, conceding 11. The previous two meetings have seen France emerge victorious, including a 10-0 win the last time these two nations played. The French squad is packed full of talent and this is a game that they should be winning comprehensively, especially at home. |
| France to Win Both Halves and Over 4 Goals and Michael Olise to Score and Michael Olise to Assist | 15/4 @ Bet365 (21.1%) | ⭐⭐ | France really should be winning this game at a canter and we can see the goals flowing in this encounter, leading us to think that France will win both halves. This fixture has a history of goals, with France scoring 12 in the two games that the two nations have previously played and we can see France scoring at least five times. Michael Olise has been in great form this season, scoring five times for Bayern Munich and once for France, leaving his record at three goals in 10 appearances for his nation. |
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How both teams head into France vs Azerbaijan
France come into this game top of Group D, having picked up wins over Iceland and Ukraine in their opening two World Cup qualifiers. Another victory here would set them up for their remaining three fixtures and put them in pole position to compete in North America next summer. Outside of qualification, France have won seven of their last 10 games, experiencing losses against Spain and Croatia in that time.
Azerbaijan have a poor record coming into this game, having not won in 13 games. There have only been three draws in that period, against Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine, with nine losses. That leaves the nation bottom of Group D and any chance of World Cup qualification seems a long way off. They’ve conceded 30 goals in that period, finding the net themselves just five times.
World Cup qualifying standings
| Team (Group D) | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| France | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | +3 | 6 |
| Team (Group D) | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azerbaijan | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | +5 | 1 |
France team news
Didier Deschamps has named a strong squad for the game against Azerbaijan, although Bradley Barcola has had to withdraw through injury. Kylian Mbappe could win his 93rd cap, whilst there could be an international debut for Crystal Palace forward, Jean-Phillipe Mateta.
Azerbaijan team news
19 of the 24 players selected by caretaker coach, Aykhan Abbasov, ply their trade in the Azerbaijan Premier League. Mahir Emreli is probably the most high profile name, with the striker currently playing for Kaiserslauten in Germany, scoring six goals in 56 appearances for his country.
Head to head: Last 2 meetings
These two nations have met only twice previously, with the most recent meeting coming in 1995. France won both of those encounters, scoring 12 times without conceding.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 05/09/1995 | France 10-0 Azerbaijan | European Championships qualification |
| 12/12/1994 | Azerbaijan 0-2 France | European Championships qualification |
Conclusion
France’s huge array of attacking talent should prove to be too much for an Azerbaijan defence that has failed to perform in recent weeks. Everything points to a heavy win for the home side and our top tip is France to win on a -6 handicap at 4/1 with BetMGM.
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.