Sweden vs France
The top two sides in Group A are ready to go hammer and tongues yet again.
Betting odds favour the French but many sports betting fans have had a soft spot for the Swedes over the years, even in the post Zlatan Ibrahimovic era.
Football games between these two nations are traditionally attacking.
Last autumn, the Scandinavians gave France a scare in the Stade de France before the hosts edged through, coming from behind to win with goals from Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet.
Now, just over a fortnight after Stockholm hosted the Europa League Final, Pogba and co return, this time for the national team for an important World Cup qualifier.
After their 5-0 hammering of Paraguay, it’s onto the real business for coach Didier Deschamps who has an assortment of attacking riches at his disposal.
It was hard to believe his claim transfer speculation surrounding Antoine Griezmann had unsettled the French squad, given the brutal way they despatched the South Americans last week with Griezmann the consummate professional.
With the Atleti star, Olivier Giroud, Alexander Lacazette and Kylian Mbappe – who made his international debut in March – among the attacking trio Deschamps can call upon, France will start as favourites.
Les Bleus, finalists at Euro 2016, may be expected to complete a double but Sweden won – albeit a friendly – at European Champions in Portugal in March so they still have quality.
They also have a potent match-winner of their own in Emil Forsberg.
He may have failed to show his potential at Euro 2016 but he has since excelled both at international and club level with surprise package of the German season, RB Leipzig.
Marcus Berg and Victor Claesson’s double against Portugal have also brought them to prominence and they will be relied upon to boost chances of a home victory.
On saying all of that, with betting odds of Sweden 1X2 @ 4.80 and France 1X2 @ 1.69, it’s easy to see where the experts are staking their claim.
Although a 1X2 draw @ 3.55 has a certain appeal for this writer.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
