Albania vs France Predictions

France are back on top of Group H, while they’ll be aiming to stay there in their final Euro 2020 qualifier. The World Cup winners booked their place at the next major tournament with a 2-1 win over Moldova on Thursday. This weekend sees them travel to Albania, a potentially tough clash, especially for a team who could well have switched their focus towards the Euro 2020 draw at the end of this month.

Albania aren’t on course for another European Championship appearance, having made the play-off round in 2012 and the group stage in 2016. They faced France three years ago, losing 2-0 in one of the six defeats they’ve suffered in eight meetings with the French. The hosts look set for a quiet summer to come, while they are about to wrap up a qualifying campaign which has brought four defeats in nine.

The French can round that up to a solid 50% loss rate this week, even though the visitors are already guaranteed a spot at the Euros. They head here with a squad so strong they could hardly name a weak line-up, while the hard work is only just beginning for the French. They want to emulate Spain’s 2010 and 2012 double success, while the French World Cup winners of ’98 also went on to lift Euro 2000. Can this generation match them?

We aren’t going to find out too much more about France this week. We already know they’re an impressive attacking outfit who occasionally slip up at the back. They head into this clash having seen both teams score in their last two games, which is unlikely to improve given Albania’s fine return in front of goal in their home clashes.

The hosts have scored eight goals across their last three home games. They are aiming to build on a run which has seen over 2.5 goals land in four of their last five matches. We’re backing the same again here, with the French hitting four goals in their clash with Albania. With 23 goals in nine matches, France have the talent to rack up a big win here, so over 2.5 goals is our pick in this clash.

We are backing another 2-1 victory for Les Bleus in this clash, having seen them win by a single goal in two of their last three games. The goal they shipped at home to Moldova last time out suggests the World Cup winners aren’t entirely solid at the back, while the hosts should be able to get on the scoresheet given their recent attacking form. However, with the visitors winning five of their last six games, we are backing them to secure a 2-1 victory on Sunday.