France v Ukraine Tips: Hosts should prove too strong for the visitors

This World Cup qualification Group D match being shown on Sky Sports at 19.45 on Wednesday features a first round tie between France and Ukraine. The hosts playing in the Stade de France for the first time since November 2020 when they crushed Sweden 4-2. 

Ukraine are in a very poor run of form having only won once in their last five matches, although that win was an incredibly surprising home victory against Spain. France however should have too much firepower for Ukraine and it could be a similar defeat for the away side as the 7-1 massacre they suffered in a friendly in October last year to France.

These factors have all affected the match betting odds which are very short in favour of a France win.

Team news

France appear to have a full squad available to them. Ukraine however have two main players injured in the Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Stepanenko and West Ham attacking midfielder Yarmolenko unavailable.

Bets

• France to win both halves @ 9/5 with Betfair
• Pavard 1+ shot on target @ 7/2 with Betfair
• Pavard & Rabiot 1+ shot on target; Mbappe 2+ shots on target @ 18/1 with Paddy Power

The statistics aren’t positive towards France scoring in both halves, although they achieved this in their last game against Sweden. However Ukraine have seen their opponents score in both halves against them in 3 of the their last 4 games. Therefore, with a strong French side against a poor Ukrainian team I can see multiple French goals and more than likely see them win both halves.
 

In his last game for France he scored, and against a weak Ukrainian side I believe he will not have too many defensive responsibilities which will allow him to push forward. When playing for Bayern Munich he also had a shot on target in their last game despite the Germans having to play 80 minutes with ten men.