France v Sweden Odds & Betting Prediction Euro 2012

Les Bleus aim to hold top spot in Group D

Laurent Blanc
Laurent Blanc © GEPA pictures

France v Sweden Euro 2012 betting will be running side by side with that of England v Ukraine in Group D, as the group stage wraps itself up. France are in the driving seat in the Group and with the quality they showed in their second match, a victory over the Ukraine, then they should pick up a victory over the eliminated Sweden. France only need a draw from their final match in order to make it through to the next stage. Of course, as Laurent Blanc’s men sit level with England on four points at the top of Group D, there is still the issue of top spot in the group to be settled. Both teams will really want to win their final games, because the top spot in Group D will likely mean avoiding tournament favourites Spain in the quarter finals. So there is more to play for then just qualification. Top spot gets the easier run to the semi finals. If France end up losing against Sweden, they will only go out of the tournament if they finish level on points with England, and level on goal difference and goals scored as well. Any standing where England and France finish level on goal difference, England win the group because of a better co-efficiency. But France are simply favourites to just go out and win and there is not going to be any complicated situations here.

France v Sweden Euro 2012 Odds at BetFair
France 4/6, Draw 11/4, Sweden 9/2

Laurent Blanc’s men got off to a slow start against England in their first match, really not helped by the fact that England played with eleven men behind the ball. Anyway, the French showed up better and you could really get a better sense of their flowing football and the creativity they have in their side. France will create chances but they need Karim Benzema to really show up a little bit better than he has done so far. In scoring two goals against the Ukraine in their second match at Euro 2012, that was the first time since the 2006 World Cup that France have actually scored more than one goal in game at a major tournament. So France, with a win and draw under their belt, will be favourites to get the job done against the Swedes. England really did France a favour here in beating the Swedes and knocking them out, because France won’t likely come up against too stiff of an opponent on Tuesday. France are on a 23 match unbeaten streak at the moment and are a very solid side thanks to the work that Laurent Blanc has put in. There is the sense that there is a lot more to come from them and they are only going to click and get stronger as a side.

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This is France’s first competitive meeting against the Swedes since 1993 and the French hold a W8 D4 L4 record against Sweden. France have lost just once in the seven previous competitive meetings against Tuesday’s opponents. Only once before have they met at the European Championships, and that was back in Euro ’92, a match which ended in a 1-1 draw, and Laurent Blanc was playing for his country there. Are Sweden really going to have anything left? They looked terribly average against an average England side and while they seem to battle well and can throw men forward, they don’t have the quality which France do. France should be able to dominate this game in the middle of the pitch, simply by knocking the ball around. Les Blues don’t look very likely to lose this one, and how tested they are at the back could all come down to what kind of mood Zlatan Ibrahimovic is in for his country. The tall Swedes is their best player and their best route to goal and will trouble the solid looking French back line the most. However, the French look a very tight unit all over the pitch, they look a patient side who are not going to give too much away. With this being an uncompetitive, competitive match, Blanc will want a safe and easy passage and they should get it.

France v Sweden Prediction: Les Bleus have the upper hand in talent and quality over Swedes. They also have the upper hand in confidence and mood as well. The Swedes can’t compete technically and they really won’t be all that interested in the game. Therefore a France -1 Asian Handicap for 6/5 at online bookmaker Bet365 should back France getting the job done comfortably.