Ukraine v France: Three easy points for the French

Dave Farrar
14 June 2012

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France combine a world-class attack with a Sunday League defence but there's enough class in Laurent Blanc's XI to take the wind out of Ukraine's sails on Friday evening, says Dave Farrar

"Laurent Blanc’s team had more shots on target than any other team on Matchday One and also had the best passing accuracy, an impressive 92%."

Back France to win @ 2.1411/10

Ukraine v France: 17:00, Live on ITV
Match Odds: Ukraine 4.1, France 2.1211/10, Draw 3.45

The last time that France played Ukraine, at the Donbass Arena last June, Marvin Martin wrote his name into the history books. The Sochaux man became only the fourth French player to score two goals on his debut, and at that point he looked an outside bet to be France's creative hub at this tournament. As it turns out, he's here, but only as a substitute, and creative duties are in the hands of Samir Nasri, Franck Ribery and Yohan Cabaye. As ever, it takes two players at least to fill the gap left by Zinedine Zidane.

I thought that France played well against England, and they were always going to struggle against a team which defended so stoutly and refused to come out and engage Les Bleus.

If you trust the stats, and I have to confess that I do, then make a note of the fact that Laurent Blanc's team had more shots on target than any other team on Matchday One and also had the best passing accuracy, an impressive 92%. If Spain posted figures like that, then pundits would be raving about them, and so France are due some credit.

What they must do against Ukraine is create chances for Karim Benzema by opening up spaces in the opposition backline. I think that they'll be more than capable of doing that against a defence which Sweden ripped apart late on in their opening game, and I fancy France to come good in this second game and win comfortably.

As many of us regular Les Bleus watchers noted before the tournament, France's two centre halves are dreadful and particularly poor at set pieces, so have a look at the Ukrainian centre halves in the "To Score" market, but France have too much firepower at the other end of the field for that to be a huge worry.

Match Odds
I wish that Blanc would start Olivier Giroud up front, and allow Benzema to work off the Montpellier man, but even without him I'm convinced that they'll find a way through. It's not a game on which to blow your bank (I'm saving that for the over 2.5 goals when France collide with Sweden), but I'll be supporting France at 2.1411/10 in the Match Odds market

Over 2.5 Goals
Given the strange combination of strong attack and weak defence I will also back over 2.5 goals at a massive 2.56/4.

France also look like they're worth supporting conceding a goal on the Asian Handicap, as I think that they could win this comfortably.

Best Bet
Back France to win @ 2.1411/10

Recommended Bet
Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.56/4

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