France v Côte d'Ivoire Betting Tips [25 March 2022]

France’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup will proceed with a friendly match at home to Ivory Coast on Friday. These two nations haven't met a lot in recent years. They last faced off in a 2016 friendly match that ended 0-0 and had earlier played in 2005, a friendly game as well, which France won 3-0. France will still be the favourites going into this game, after winning each of their last five matches, and going unbeaten in seven. The French have scored two or more goals in each of the last five matches and they have three clean sheets in that run. They go into this game without key men Benjamin Pavard and Karim Benzema and coach Didier Deschamps has called up William Saliba and Olivier Giroud as replacements. Meanwhile, they will hope Kylian Mbappe rises from the bad run his team PSG has had lately. Mbappe has scored seven times in the last four matches for France and will be expected to lead the line in Benzema’s absence.

Ivory Coast haven't had a lot of good fortune in recent times, the quality in the team notwithstanding. An away loss to Cameroon in November ended their World Cup qualification campaign and while they hoped to get some reprieve at AFCON 2021, they were eliminated at the round of 16 by eventual finalists, Egypt. Ivory Coast have failed to score in two of their last five matches but they have two clean sheets in that run. Their only loss inside regular time in the last 16 matches was that defeat against Cameroon. The Ivorians are however not really uptight in friendly matches; in their last 10, they have five wins and three losses and both sides have scored in seven. They will have to be at their best to handle French forward Mbappe, who has been in fine form, even when his club has underperformed. The Ivorians have managed more than a goal in just two of their last five matches and it will be tough for them here.

Ivory Coast are reorganising after their early exit at AFCON and failure to advance to the final round of World Cup qualifiers in Africa. They meet a France side ready to defend its World Cup title and also winners of the UEFA Nations League. France will miss a few key players but will definitely be favourites here. Back the hosts to win both halves.