France v Israel: Prediction, Tips and Odds

France have recovered well from their opening defeat to Italy in the Nations League and Les Bleus are hot favourites for a home victory over Israel on Thursday.

France v Israel betting tips and predictions

France to win & both teams to score - 15/8

Israel have struggled against Nations League Group A2 rivals Belgium, Italy and France and they are 20/1 to upset Les Bleus at the Stade de France on Thursday.

France reached the European Championship semi-finals in the summer, despite not being at their best during the tournament, and they had a dream start in the Nations League as youngster Bradley Barcola scored just 13 seconds into the home fixture against Italy.

The Azzurri came back strongly to win 3-1 but Didier Deschamps' men have responded to that setback with three victories out of three, beating Belgium 2-0 at home and 2-1 away and seeing off Israel 4-1.

The scoreline against Israel was glossed by late goals from Matteo Guendouzi and PSG winger Barcola although France undoubtedly dominated the contest.

Omri Gandelman's 24th-minute goal was Israel's only shot of the game but they should be encouraged by the fact that both teams have scored in four of France's last five internationals.

Israel, who welcome back Tottenham winger Manor Solomon from injury, will also take heart from France's defensive lapses in their away win over Belgium last time out.

The Red Devils had 20 attempts at goal to their visitors' 14 and Belgium midfielder Youri Tielemans missed a penalty when the score was still 0-0.

Arsenal's William Saliba, who conceded that spot-kick, has not been quite as imperious for the Gunners this season as he was last term and the centre-back's form for the national team has also been patchy.

Israel have scored in all four of their Nations League defeats and they also found the net in their last two European Championship qualifying losses, against Romania and Iceland, so backing France to win and both teams to score looks a good bet. 

Michael Olise to be first goalscorer - 9/2

There has been plenty of debate about France coach Deschamps' decision to leave captain Kylian Mbappe out of the squad for this week's Nations League fixtures.

Mbappe has not had the smoothest of starts to his Real Madrid career although Deschamps insists his omission is "a one-off".

After the international retirements of record goalscorer Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann, there is a fresh look to the French attacking unit and Michael Olise could seize his opportunity to impress.

The winger scored 10 Premier League goals in just 1,277 minutes during his injury-disrupted 2023/24 season at Crystal Palace and he has hit the ground running at new club Bayern Munich.

Olise, who could start in a central role just behind striker Randal Kolo Muani on Thursday, has five Bundesliga goals in his first eight starts for Bayern.

He has also scored twice in the UEFA Champions League, in which he averages three shots per game, and he is a tempting price to break the deadlock against Israel.

Both teams to receive a card - No - 11/8

Despite the calibre of the opposition Israel have faced in the Nations League, they have picked up only three yellow cards in four matches.

Two of those bookings came in second-half injury-time at the end of September's 2-1 loss to Italy and it may be worth backing one or both teams not to receive a card on Thursday.

That was a winning bet in both of Israel's Nations League matches last month. France's Eduardo Camavinga's early booking was the only card shown in Les Bleus' 4-1 win while Italy's Andrea Cambiaso was the only player cautioned on matchday four.

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France v Israel odds

France - 1/8
Draw - 7/1
Israel - 20/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.