The second round of fixtures in Group B take place this weekend, and there could be a testing match on the road for the French as they travel to Dublin to take on the Republic of Ireland.
EURO 2024 Qualifier Preview
France is already widely considered to be the leading contender for EURO 2024 glory next year, and they will be looking to avoid any unwanted mishaps over the opening rounds of qualification. The French excelled at the end of last year, as they reached the World Cup final for the second straight edition of the tournament, before falling to defeat in a penalty shootout against Argentina.
The one blemish on France’s recent international record was their exit at an early stage at the EUROs in 2021, as they were beaten from the spot by Switzerland. However, few would be able to bet against them righting that wrong next year in Germany. Didier Deschamps has named a very strong squad for the opening two matches in qualification, and Kylian Mbappe will be looking to mark his announcement as the new captain of the national side with a goal on Monday.
The Republic of Ireland will be outsiders to reach EURO 2024 after being drawn alongside the Netherlands and France, and unlike Greece, they don’t have a playoff assurance to fall back on. The Irish failed to qualify for the previous EUROs after falling in their playoff, but their form has shown signs of improvement.
Ireland has won three of their previous four internationals, which includes a 3-2 win in Dublin in an international friendly on Wednesday evening. Evan Ferguson’s performance was one of the bright sparks in that match, as he scored his first international goal against Latvia.
Republic of Ireland vs France Head to Head
These two nations have met on 17 previously occasions, with the French claiming victory on eight occasions. Ireland has won on four occasions, with five matches ending in draws. France has won each of the previous two encounters, including a 2-0 success in preparation for the 2018 World Cup.
Republic of Ireland vs France Prediction
Ireland’s performance against Latvia was one of their best in recent years. However, that will still not be enough against a supremely talented French outfit this weekend. We expect France to win comfortably in Dublin this weekend by at least a two-goal margin.
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