Nations League Friday Tips: Back 7/2 France to beat Italy, Belgium to bounce back & 25/1 Acca

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Back France at 7/2 against Italy in Friday's Nations League betting tips and predictions

Paul Higham is backing [7/2] France to come on strong against Italy, Sweden and Belgium to earn wins and a [25/1] Acca on his best bets for Friday night's Nations League action.


France v Italy Tip - Back 7/24.50 French to find a way

Click here for France v Italy odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime PPV

It's a great old fixture this one but it's one-way traffic in the betting with France 4/111.36 and Italy unfancied 11/26.50 shots - but Roberto Mancini's men are in high spirits after a 4-1 thrashing of Turkey made it five straight away wins in the group stages of the Nations League.

Zinedine Zidane's tenure has started with two gritty 1-0 wins and with the injured Kylian Mbappe missing again a clean sheet will be the order of the day - which France are accustomed to having kept five in their past six competitive home games.

Five of six France games have also gone under 2.5 goals while both of their games so far in this campaign have been 0-0 at half-time. Italy have conceded 11 of their last 12 goals after the break so this could play out somewhat similar - expect a tight low-key first 45 minutes with France finding a way to pinch the points.


Belgium v Turkiye Tip - Back Belgians to bounce back

Click here for Belgium v Turkiye odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime PPV

Contrasting home defeats for Turkiye so far - a battling 0-1 against France then a humbling 1-4 against Italy means they're desperate for a result in Belgium, where they're 9/25.50 outsiders and the hosts are 4/91.44 to bounce back from a rare home defeat last time out against the French.

Turkiye have an improved away record of late including a 2-2 draw in Spain during World Cup qualifying while Belgium have four wins to nil in five competitive home games, but all against much lesser opposition.

Turkiye's games have largely contained goals - with over 2.5 landing in six of nine Nations League outings - but if they try that attacking style here it could suit the hosts down to the ground. I'm going for goals but with Belgium having too much firepower.


Bosnia v Sweden Tip - Back 11/43.75 Swedes in a shootout

Click here for Bosnia v Sweden odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime PPV

Two homes wins for Sweden sets them up nicely for a trip to unbeaten Bosnia, who collected four points from trips to Poland and Romania but are 11/53.20 home underdogs, with the Swedes 11/102.11 to continue their winning resurgence under Graham Potter.

There's no Alexander Isak for Sweden but they still contain a goal threat - keeping the back door shut is the problem with 11 of their past 12 seeing both teams score. Both sides have also netted in six of seven competitive homes for Bosnia and if we're going that way again I'm taking Sweden to have more goals in them.


Poland v Romania Tip - Back goals & cards in 2/13.00 Bet Builder

Click here for Poland v Romania odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off
Live on Amazon Prime PPV

Poland are odds-on at 11/201.55 but are winless in five now after a 0-0 at home to Bosnia then 3-1 reverse in Sweden, while 9/25.50 Romania lost 2-1 to the Swedes and endured a 4-2 home defeat to Bosnia last time out. So relegation is the fear for both of these as they look for a much-needed win.

A 16/54.20 draw doesn't really do either that much good but could be on the cards as the Poles have drawn three of five at home while two draws is the best Romania have done in seven aways, so they'd take anything right now.

Romania should get their customary goal as Poland only have one clean sheet in eight while the visitors have netted in nine of 10 competitive away games. We should also get a few cards in Warsaw, with Poland getting three in each game while Romania got five in their previous away match.

With serious doubts over Poland I'll swerve the match result and go for a goals and cards Bet Builder instead.


Ukraine v N. Ireland Tip - A clean sheet win for 7/42.75 Ukraine

Click here for Ukraine v Northern Ireland odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off
Live on BBC Two

The top two in the group clash in Slovakia with identical records of one win, one draw, one goal scored and two clean sheets - so nothing really spectacular to suggest this could be a shootout.

Ukraine are 17/201.85 and have four clean sheets in five, with the visitors 10/34.33 after just their second win in 13 coming in Georgia last week - their only previous success came in Luxembourg so perhaps the 12/53.40 draw should be the peak of their ambitions.

Michael O'Neill's men have confidence but whether they have the technique to match Ukraine or the creativity to break down their defence is another matter. Ukraine's last four wins came with a clean sheet while none of Northern Ireland's last seven saw both teams score, this shapes up to be a tight scuffle won by the designated home side.


Hungary v Georgia Tip - Back Hungary most cards at 2/13.00

Click here for Hungary v Georgia odds
Friday 2 October - 19:45 kick-off

It's been a frustrating start for Hungary who seem to have a hangover from failing to make the World Cup, especially in front of goal as they've failed to score from a combined 3.17 xG across their two games so far.

They're 1/12.00 favourites to start putting that right with a win against Georgia, who are 5/23.50 and also struggling to convert their chances, drawing a blank from 2.67 xG including 1.71xG of that just against Northern Ireland.

Hungary completely lost their heads in a heated home battle with Ukraine that contained 10 yellow cards and a red, while there was six in the game in Northern Ireland. Georgia have had just three in total and although the caveat is that they've played both games at home, the way Hungary imploaded against Ukraine means that they could be a good bet to earn the most cards of the two.

In a game between two sides struggling to score goals, cards may be much more prolific.


Back Paul's 25/126.00 Nations League Acca

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Recommended bets

Back draw/France in the half-time/full-time market @ 7/24.50

Back Belgium to beat Turkiye & both teams to score @ 6/42.50

Back Hungary most cards vs Georgia @ 2/13.00

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