France have qualified but are unlikely to go easy on Ukraine

Internationals / Editor / 20 November 2007 / Leave a Comment

France's record-breaking Thierry Henry wants more goals against...the Ukraine.

France booked their place at Euro 2008 by virtue of Italy's 2-1 win in Scotland on Saturday but coach Raymond Domenech has vowed to field all of his available big guns for the dead rubber in Ukraine.

The French are second in Group B behind Italy and should finish in that position as the leaders bring the curtain down on their campaign against the Faroe Islands, who have lost all of their 11 qualifying games.

France have scored the most goals [23] and conceded the least (3) in qualifying - their only defeats coming against Scotland - so head to Ukraine as the [2.34] favourites in the Match Odds market.

The French stuffed the Faroe Isles and Georgia and held world champions Italy to a draw on their travels so will not fear Ukraine [3.45], who they beat 2-0 in Paris thanks to Franck Ribéry and Nicolas Anelka goals.

Whether Ukraine, who cannot qualify, have the heart or motivation to take on France is open to debate so the France/France Half-time/Full-time option at [3.95] might appeal.

However, of the 23 goals France have scored during qualifying, 14 have come in the second half so other Half-time/Full-time option markets may come into consideration.

Thierry Henry became France's record goalscorer on 43 as his late double broke Lithuania hearts on Saturday and he will be a popular choice among punters to find the net again, while fit-again Nicolas Anelka, who has four qualifying goals, will also appeal.

Veteran centre-back Lilian Thuram and Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini will be ready for the match despite missing training on Sunday, while Paris St Germain's Jerome Rothen, who is more defensive-minded than Ben Arfa, is tipped to start, meaning France will be difficult to beat.
France are building up steam ahead of next summer's showpiece event and, with the likes of Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery, Florent Malouda and Bacary Sagna emerging as mainstays, will appeal at [9.4] in the Outright Winner market.

Ukraine have scored 12 of their 16 qualifying goals at home and won four out of five qualifying games on home soil - only losing to Italy - but have lost four of their last six Group B games so are difficult to judge.

All-time leading scorer Andriy Shevchenko was left out of the Ukraine squad that beat the Faroe Islands 5-0 last time out despite having registered his fourth goal from six qualifiers against Scotland but he may be worth considering in any To Score markets if he wins a recall.