France vs Northern Ireland Predictions

• A full-strength France will seek a response after their Ivory Coast setback
• Northern Ireland missing key defender Atcheson
• Les Bleus have won three of their last five games by more than one goal

Les Bleues to bounce back against Irish

France face Northern Ireland in Lille on Monday as Didier Deschamps’ side look to restore momentum ahead of the World Cup. Les Bleus cruised through qualifying with five wins and a draw, finishing six points clear in Group D, but a 2‑1 defeat to Ivory Coast halted what had been a superb nine‑game unbeaten run.

With a squad packed with elite attacking talent and rated as high as third in the FIFA rankings, France will expect a controlled performance as they prepare for Group I opponents Norway, Senegal and Iraq.

Northern Ireland arrive with far less stability. Michael O’Neill’s men were edged out of their qualifying group by Slovakia and managed only three wins across the campaign.

Thuram tipped to maintain scoring run

A 1‑0 victory over Guinea last week offered encouragement, but it came at a cost as teenage defender Tom Atcheson, who scored the winner, will be suspended after his red card. With defensive options already thin, Trai Hume, Brodie Spencer or Shea Charles may be forced into reshuffled roles.

France are expected to be at full strength again now with their PSG and Arsenal contingent back in the frame to start, so Ousmane Dembele should come into an awesome attacking quartet including Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram and Michael Olise.

Thuram, who has scored seven goals in his last 10 games for club and country is good value to score at anytime amid some short prices for his teammates. Back the French to secure a comfortable win with a small wager on a 3-1 scoreline, which would mirror recent victories over Azerbaijan and Colombia.