Form and Line-up France
France last week frankly disappointed their fans, producing their poorest performance in terms of quality over the past year and a half. In the meeting with Ivory Coast the home team for the first time since November 2024 failed to get over the modest mark of 1.0 xG, showing complete inertia in attack. Deschamps admitted that the extensive rotation in the second half destroyed the balance of the team, but stressed that this friendly helped to assess the players' physical condition.
The attacking potential of France in the last game was artificially lowered: the Paris Saint-Germain trio of Ousmane Dembele, Desire Doue and Bradley Barcola barely featured, as the players were recovering after an exhausting Champions League final. Against Northern Ireland they are expected to start. The main concern for the coaching staff is Kylian Mbappe, who left the pre-match training session early because of discomfort; Deschamps will not risk his fitness. Adding to the negative background are media reports about players being unhappy with reduced bonuses and limits on family tickets for the World Cup.
Key numbers for France:
Have won six of their last seven home matches.
In 11 of their previous 12 games have scored at least twice.
In five of their last six matches the bet 'both teams to score – Yes' has landed.
Probable line-up (4-3-3): Brice Samba – Malo Gusto, Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate, Lucas Digne – Warren Zaire-Emery, N'Golo Kante, Rayan Cherki – Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola.
Form and Line-up Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, so Michael O'Neill is using the current window for a major overhaul of the squad, integrating young players and preparing for the autumn Nations League. The experiments are already paying off: the visitors recently edged a solid Guinea side 1:0 in Spain. In that match the team played almost half the game with a line-up of players no older than 20, and the winning goal was scored by teenage debutant Tom Atcheson.
The main trump card of this Northern Ireland side is traditional British organisation and discipline without the ball. O'Neill openly states that he is satisfied with the defensive block. Very few opponents have recently managed to outplay this team on sheer class and inflict a heavy defeat. In their last 10 matches they have allowed opponents to create more than 1.5 xGA in only three games.
Key numbers for Northern Ireland:
In their last seven matches no more than two goals have been scored per game.
Only top national teams Germany (1:3) and Italy (0:2) have managed to score more than once against this defence over the past year.
In six of their previous seven games the bet 'both teams to score – No' has come in.
Probable line-up (5-4-1): Pierce Charles – Ethan Galbraith, Ciaron Brown, Ruairi McConville, Trai Hume, Brodie Spencer – Paul Smyth, Ali McCann, Shea Charles, Isaac Price – Josh Magennis.
