-
Edgar Chaput
France vs. Canada Prediction: International Friendly Odds
Both these sides are experiencing vastly different episodes in their national team histories. France is stretching its legs before commencing the UEFA Euro as one of the favourites to win it all, led by superstar Kylian Mbappé. Canada needs to find its rhythm on the cusp of the Copa America and under new head coach Jesse Marsch. What better way to prepare for facing Lionel Messi and Argentina in a few weeks than by playing against Mbappé, right?
The odds are unsurprisingly stacked against the Canadians. The men’s national squad is priced at +1150 to win on our soccer odds, with a draw +600. If anybody wants to bother making money on France, they’re -588.
France vs. Canada Betting Analysis
Interestingly, this will be only the second time that Canada and France come face to face on the football pitch. The game in question is water under the bridge. At the 1986 Mexico World Cup, Les Bleus downed the Canadians 1-0.
For all of France’s talent, things have been somewhat rocky for the squad ranked second globally by FIFA. Last November, after vanquishing Gibraltar 14-0, they drew Greece 2-2 at Euro qualifiers. Then came an international break in March when the Germans handled the French with relative ease, 2-0. That was followed by a narrow 3-2 win over the Chileans, which was also during the March break. It was only in Wednesday’s battering of Luxembourg that France looked like its usual self.
Even though Canada doesn’t enter games with the same expectations as France, by their recently reinvigorated standards the team has been subpar since late 2023. Japan destroyed them 4-1 in October, followed by a defeat on away goals over two legs against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League quarter-final. In March the squad played a Nations League play-off versus Trinidad and Tobago and, thankfully, won 2-0.
France
The tune-up versus Luxembourg went about as well as it could have. The 3-0 final score was just big enough to remind people how much better France are and, from what can be gleaned on the pitch, they resembled a well-oiled machine.
France ball-hawked and played possession for most of the evening, finishing with 61.8 per cent possession, 21 shot attempts, and seven on target. The final 3-0 score could have been far worse had Antione Griezmann not missed a glorious opportunity. Even so, he was in a position to distract the Luxembourg keeper on Randal Kolo Muani’s opening header (43rd minute) that originated from a corner kick.
France applied consistent pressure in the second half and, again off a corner, defender Jonathan Klauss (70thminute) rocketed a shot from outside the box that went bar down. Man of the hour Mbappé iced the match with a wonderful one-timer in 85th minute.
Canada
One can feel for Jesse Marsch. He’s a reputable coach who did good work just a couple of seasons ago with Leeds United in the English Premier League. Unfortunately, his job consists of improving a side that’s been on hard times since the 2022 World Cup and his first kick of the can was against behemoth the Netherlands on Thursday.
Unfortunately for him, the players, and the team’s supporters, it was a matter of David versus Goliath but without the surprise twist favouring the little guy. The funny thing is that it was a 0-0 game at the break, but not because Canada shut down the Oranje. The latter simply didn’t bury their chances, which were plenty. That all changed in the second half with goals from Memphis Depay (50th), Jeremie Frimpong (57th), Wout Weghorst (63rd), and Virgil van Dijk (83rd) that all demonstrated clear superiority.
Canada has talent. Look at Alphonso Davies, Ismael Kone, Tajon Buchanan, and Jonathan David. But as an ensemble, they don’t measure up to the European heavyweights.
