France vs Bulgaria Predictions

• France have won 15 of their last 19 internationals.
• Bulgaria have lost nine of their last 15 games.
• The highest scoring half has been a tie in five of the last 12 France games.

France will ease to win with minimum of fuss

Bulgaria’s only ever away win against France came in the now-infamous 1993 World Cup qualifier at Parc des Princes.

That was the game in which substitute David Ginola was scapegoated for losing the ball prior to Emil Kostadinov’s late winner that took the visitors to USA 94 instead.

Any repeat of that looks highly unlikely given the footballing fortunes of the nations have moved in opposite directions since then with Bulgaria now ranked a lowly 71^st by Fifa.

The Lions’ only win in their last 14 internationals was at home to tiny Gibraltar and their last win on the road was almost three years ago in Slovenia.

Yasen Petrov’s men lack quality in all areas and will be up against it to keep France at bay for as long as they did Russia in their most recent game – losing to an 84^th minute penalty.

Bulgaria lost midfielder Kristiyan Malinov to injury after just nine minutes in Saturday’s defeat with Petar Vitanov tipped to replace him in Saint-Denis

France will probably be boosted by the return of N’Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud while Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez could be handed another chance after being withdrawn at half-time against Wales.

The French will want an easy game just a week out from their opening Euro 2020 Group F clash with Germany and we don’t expect them to put a complete performance together here – playing in fits and starts with plenty left in reserve.

That’s why we forecast a 2-0 margin of victory and focus on the highest scoring half market for a value pick.

Over the course of the last 12 France games, the highest scoring half has been the first on only three occasions, the second half four times and the tie has landed in five of the games.

Yet the biggest price of the three options is the tie, which we will happily take here given that we think there is going to be an even number of goals.