France and Scotland will don their friendly caps on Tuesday evening at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.
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After both secured safe passage to the Euro 2024 Finals next summer, little is riding on the outcome of a game, although momentum is always crucial in international football.
The hosts maintained their perfect record in qualifying, and a 2-1 victory away to an injury-ravaged Netherlands ensured Les Bleus will take their place at another Euro Finals, and they have been an ever-present fixture in the major tournament since 1988.
Scotland, meanwhile, will have been seething after a perceived sense of injustice against Spain saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat, but Spain’s 1-0 win over Norway on Sunday evening saw Steve Clarke’s reach back-to-back European Championships, a watershed moment in many respects.
The Tartan Army will be bereft of Andy Robertson, who dislocated his shoulder injury, and he has returned to his club to have a scan to assess the extent of the damage.
Anyway, while this is an exhibition match, I have scurried around the markets, and selected a couple of betting tips for you to consider.
France to hand out a European lesson
International football can be a cruel mistress at times, and the gulf in class between teams can sometimes be evident.
Scotland found that out to their cost when they faced the auld-enemy England in a special 150th anniversary exhibition clash at Hampden Park when they crashed to a 3-1 defeat.
England were just too good on that night and Jude Bellingham pulled the strings in the middle of the park.
Of course, the French side that will line up against Scotland I imagine will be vastly different to the one that beat the Netherlands, so the likes of Kylian Mbappe may be given a breather.
That said, there is still plenty of strength and depth in the France squad, and Didier Deschamps will still field a side capable of taking out the Scots.
Intriguingly, there have been 16 meetings between France and Scotland, and the head-to-head record is split with eight wins apiece.
Although Scotland have won two of the past three encounters, France should have too much for the visitors, and I have leaned towards the Correct Score line for my first pick. I am backing France to clinch a 2-0 win which is available at an enticing 24/5 with William Hill.
Antoine Griezmann to make a telling contribution
An instrumental part of the France set-up, Antoine Griezmann picked up his 81st cap in the win over the Netherlands.
However, the midfielder may well be slightly envious that Mbappe’s double against the Oranje took the frontman’s international tally to 42.
Griezmann is just two ahead in the all-time top scorer list, and that long-running battle will still have more twists and turns.
If Mbappe is given a rest, then Griezmann could well bring his name up in lights and put the Scots to the sword.
For my second pick, I am leaning towards Griezmann to net both goals on the evening, and he’s valued at 10/1 with Paddy Power to do so.
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France vs Scotland Tips
Goalscorer Predictions
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