As the EURO 2024 qualifiers continue, we get a fascinating clash in Paris on Thursday, with France hosting the Republic of Ireland. The Irish are hoping to end a lengthy run without a win in the match-up and get revenge for their defeat in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Bookmaker Betfred offers odds at 1.73 for only France to score in the contest. The odds are at 21.00 for only Ireland to score and at 2.38 for both teams to get on the scoresheet.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 5th, 5:30 P.M. (EST)
The two teams are set to continue an unlikely rivalry that was sparked by Thierry Henry’s controversial handball incident in 2009. Many Irish football fans are likely still bitter following the infamous match and would love to finally get back at the French. The team has already taken three cracks at it, but France has won all clashes, including in these qualifiers, as Benjamin Pavard secured a 1-0 win for Les Bleus in Dublin in March.
On Thursday, France is a massive favorite again, having kicked off the qualification campaign with a perfect record. Didier Deschamps’s side sits on 12 points through four games and hasn’t even given up a single goal yet. The 2018 world champions showed weakness 12 months ago during their Nations League campaign, but normal service resumed at the World Cup, and France is clearly set to be a contender for another competition next summer.
Ireland’s chances of getting anything out of the match depend heavily on how well the team can cope with Kylian Mbappe. The PSG ace has kicked off the 2023-24 campaign in spectacular form, scoring five times in his first three outings, and he’s also been the star man for France in the qualifiers. Mbappe dominated in the opening round against the Netherlands with two goals and one assist, and he hasn’t looked back ever since, registering four goal involvements in total.
The visitors are looking to beat France for the first time since 1981. There have previously been 18 meetings between the two nations, and France has won half of the matches, with Ireland recording four victories. It’s definitely going to be very difficult to make it five on Thursday, especially with Ireland missing its newest star, Evan Ferguson, who has just become only the fourth teenager in Premier League history to bag a hat trick. He’s forced to miss the internationals with a knee injury.
