France V Turkey
Monday 14 October 2019 – 19:45 Kick-Off
UEFA Euro 2020 Qualifying
Pick: Turkey +1.75 Asian Handicap
Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker: Bet365
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9/25 | 83/20 | 17/2 |
* (All betting odds displayed were correct as of 12 October 2019 at 17:35)
Preview: This fixture would provide a surprising victory for Turkey first time around as they stunned the world champions to win 2-0 on home soil. The two teams, who can boast identical records atop of Group H (W6 L1), reconvene at the Stade de France in Paris for what is essentially a battle for group supremacy. France are the favourites, understandably, but the defensive resolve of this Turkish team should make for an intriguing contest.
Euro 2020 Qualifying Betting – 22Bet
France Preview – Les Bleus to avenge earlier reverse?
Results in Group H: Moldova 1-4 (A), Iceland 4-0 (H), Turkey 2-0 (A), Andorra 0-4 (A), Albania 4-1 (H), Andorra 3-0 (H), Iceland 0-1 (A)
That shock defeat away to Turkey is looking more and more like an anomaly. A rare bad day at the office for the world champions, who were lacklustre from start to finish and failed to produce a single effort on goal. Any likelihood of a repeat has to be bordering on the impossible on the basis of not only what we have seen from them since then but even prior, with Les Bleus otherwise very impressive.
France (2nd – W6 D0 L1, GF20 GA4) have been victorious in all of their Euro 2020 qualifying games barring that outing in Turkey. Averaging over three goals per game, the 2016 Euro finalists have often blown opposition away in this group. A 1-0 win in Iceland, therefore, was uncharacteristically modest and workmanlike from them, though the outcome was all important as Didier Deschamps watched his team move to within another win of potentially wrapping up qualification early.
The only goal of the game in Iceland was scored by Olivier Giroud, the Chelsea forward who has barely had any minutes domestically this season but continues to prove a useful asset to Deschamps. That was, of course, on the road but at home France have made light work of all their assignments thus far, recording wins against Iceland (4-0), Albania (4-1) and Andorra (3-0) with consummate ease. Giroud was on target in two of those triumphs: it is 13/10 with PaddyPower that he scores in a France win (Score/Win).
Turkey Preview – Another stubborn effort incoming from Crescent-Stars?
Results in Group H: Albania 0-2 (A), Moldova 4-0 (H), France 2-0 (H), Iceland 2-1 (A), Andorra 1-0 (H), Moldova 0-4 (A), Albania 1-0 (H)
Are Turkey (1st – W6 D0 L1, GF15 GA2) running out of steam? Either way, they remain top of this group following a dramatic win at home to Albania on Friday. But it was the second instance in their previous three qualifiers whereby they should have won with an air of comfort against seemingly inferior opposition, only to be indebted to a winning goal struck in the dying moments. Or should we be applauding them for their perseverance?
Turkey, in one way or another, have continued their strong Euro 2020 qualifying campaign. Victory on Friday against Albania may have been left late, with Everton striker Cenk Tosun popping up the winner one minute from the end of normal time, but the table makes for glorious reading as far as they are concerned. Coach Senol Gunes has essentially guided this team to within one more win of guaranteeing participation at next summer’s main event.
Their attackers may have limped through proceedings last time out against Albania but the defence was as well-organised and robust as it has been throughout this qualifying campaign, keeping its sixth clean sheet. Those rearguard efforts would form the bedrock for all their victories, including the memorable success over France. If the Crescent-Stars are to depart the French capital in celebratory mood, their defenders will likely to be thank once again.
France V Turkey Key Facts:
- France have won seven of their previous eight home internationals (W7 D1).
- Turkey have scored in all seven of their Euro 2020 qualifying matches thus far.
- The head-to-head is even, with two wins each, though Turkey were 2-0 victors when the two teams clashed on Turkish turf back in June.
Betting Summary
France have been ruthless in Euro 2020 qualifying for the most part but showcased a more efficient side to their game last time out in Iceland, etching out a narrow but crucial 1-0 win. At home, though, they have been a much more dominant outfit, registering three wins by an aggregate of 11-1. Only Croatia, in a 2-2 draw during a Nations League fixture, have avoided defeat away to Les Bleus since last summer (W7 D1).
Turkey should be commended for not only beating France but keeping pace with them, and a point or better from this daunting fixture would be another significant stride towards securing qualification. However, they have been a touch fortunate in some of their wins, scoring some very late winners in games they ought to have been winning without much fuss. Their only defeat, meanwhile, coming in Iceland (2-1).
The visitors have been extremely solid from a defensive viewpoint, keeping a clean sheet in all but one of their qualifying games, and are capable of limiting a potent French attack. Capable doesn’t necessarily mean that they will, of course, but Turkey have scored in all seven qualifiers and could pose a few problems of their own going forward.
