On October 10, 2024, Israel will face France in a crucial UEFA Nations League match at the Bozsik Aréna in Budapest.
As the competition intensifies, both teams find themselves in contrasting positions within League A, Group 2.
France, with their eyes set on qualifying for the next stage, cannot afford to drop points against a struggling Israeli side that is desperate for a turnaround in form.
Match Preview
Israel enters this match at the bottom of their group, having failed to earn a point in their opening fixtures.
Their most recent outing was a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Italy, where they managed to score only in the dying moments of the game.
This loss has highlighted Israel’s struggles, as they have won just one of their last five matches across all competitions, with a friendly win against Belarus being their only victory during that stretch.
The team has faced defeats against Iceland, Belgium, and Hungary, raising concerns about their defensive capabilities.
Despite their challenges, Israel has shown resilience in home matches, scoring in all their last eight Nations League games at home. However, they will need to step up significantly to challenge a formidable French side.
France arrives in Budapest with a recent victory under their belts, having defeated Belgium 2-0 in their last Nations League match.
This win was crucial for the French, who have experienced a mixed bag of results lately, winning only two of their last seven fixtures in regular time.
Their performances at Euro 2024 were characterized by draws and a few disappointing losses, leaving them eager to secure a strong result against Israel.
Head to Head
Historically, France has dominated their encounters with Israel, winning a majority of the matches. Historically the teams have faced each other 9 times. Four matches ended in draws, a single win for Israel and 4 wins for France.
France has not lost to Israel in previous 5 meetings although the last 2 matches ended in a stalemate (0-0) and (1-1).
Team News
Israel may look to introduce young talent Oscar Gloukh into the starting lineup, as he has been making waves with his performances at Red Bull Salzburg.
Alongside him, Manor Solomon and Anan Khalaily will be crucial in driving the attack and creating opportunities against a solid French defense.
On the other hand, France will be without their star forward Kylian Mbappé, who is sidelined due to a hamstring injury.
However, the French side is still packed with attacking talent, featuring players like Ousmane Dembélé, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani, Christopher Nkunku, Bradley Barcola, and Michael Olise.
This depth in quality means that they remain a formidable opponent, despite Mbappé’s absence.
Prediction
Considering the current form of both teams, we predict a challenging match for France against Israel’s determined side.
While Israel has struggled in their recent outings, their home advantage and attacking potential could pose problems for the French defense.
However, France’s quality and experience might be enough to secure a narrow victory. A single goal could prove decisive in this encounter.
- Score Prediction: Israel 0-1 France
Betting Tips
France to Win: Betting on a victory for France is a reasonable choice given their historical dominance over Israel and their superior squad depth.
Under 2.5 Goals: Given the defensive tendencies of both teams, placing a bet on under 2.5 total goals in the match is advisable.
Both Teams to Score – No: With Israel’s recent struggles to find the net and France’s solid defensive record, betting against both teams scoring could yield favorable returns.
Ousmane Dembélé to Score Anytime: As a key player in the absence of Mbappé, placing a bet on Dembélé to score during the match could be a worthwhile consideration, especially if he can exploit any gaps in the Israeli defense.