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Attendance: 70,000
France national football team
Euro Champ Qualifying | Group Stage
Nov 14, 2019 at 7.45pm UK
 
Moldova national football team

2-1

Varane (35'), Giroud (79' pen.)
FT(HT: 1-1)
Rata (9')

Preview: France vs. Moldova - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Euro 2020 qualifier between France and Moldova, including predictions, team news and potential lineups.

France host Moldova on Thursday evening as they look to secure their place at next summer's European Championships.

Didier Deschamps' men are currently second in the group behind Turkey and they will assure qualification with at least a point from their final two qualifiers.


Match Preview

France boss Didier Deschamps pictured on October 10, 2019© Reuters

Although Les Bleus have not always fired on all cylinders during this current campaign, the World Cup winners are finding their groove and they can secure their spot at Euro 2020 with a win at home on Thursday.

With that in mind, Deschamps is likely to bring back players that missed their most recent qualifiers against Iceland and Turkey like Kylian Mbappe and Leo Dubois.

France's 4-2-3-1 gives them additional numbers in midfield, which will be essential against a Moldovan side that are expected to sit back very deep and work a low block, while deploying Kingsley Coman, Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann just behind Wissam Ben Yedder means that they will always have a lot of movement in the final third, enabling them to create better chances.

The two sides have only met once before, with Deschamps's side emerging 4-1 winners in the reverse fixture back in March.

Andorra's Max Llovera in action against Moldova in their Euro 2020 qualifier on June 8, 2019© Reuters

The last international break marked one of the lowest points in the history of the Moldovan national football team as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat against Andorra.

That result left them bottom of the group after eight games and extended their losing run to five on the bounce, all without scoring.

Moldova, who are now managed by Engin Firat, have scored just twice during the campaign thus far and they are currently sitting in their lowest-ever FIFA ranking position.

Firat, who has previously held managerial jobs in Iran, Turkey and South Korea, has dropped 15 of the players who were in the squad for Moldova's most recent qualifiers with Andorra and Albania.

However, they are still expected to line up with a 5-3-2 or a 5-4-1 that enables them to try and keep things tight and spring the occasional counter, with Cagliari midfielder Artur Ionita the key attacking fulcrum.

France recent form: LWWWWD

Moldova recent form: WLLLLL


Team News

Paul Pogba in action for Manchester United on September 25, 2019© Reuters

Paul Pogba is one of five first team regulars unavailable for this game and the one with Albania, with Aymeric Laporte, Blaise Matuidi, Lucas Hernandez and Hugo Lloris also out.

Deschamps is likely to recall Dubois at left-back as he is a big fan of the Lyon defender's workrate and overall contribution to the team, while Tanguy Ndombele will be pushing for a start alongside Corentin Tolisso at the base of the midfield.

Although Olivier Giroud has scored three in his last four for the national team, Ben Yedder's recent form and greater movement should see him get the nod up front.

Firan has included four uncapped players in this squad as he looks to build and develop Moldova for the future.

The Eastern European side remain without captain Alexandru Epureanu at the back but they are boosted by the return of the experienced Igor Armas, who will offer Pacos de Ferreira's promising left-back Oleg Reabciuk some cover on the left side of the defence.

France possible starting lineup:
Mandanda; Pavard, Lenglet, Varane, Dubois; Tolisso, Ndombele; Mbappe, Griezmann, Coman; Ben Yedder

Moldova possible starting lineup:
Koselev; Graur, Posmac, Platica, Armas, Reabciuk; Ginsari, Carp, Cojocari, Ionita; Sidorenco


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We say: France 5-0 Moldova

Although it would be reasonable to expect Moldova to tighten up somewhat after that Andorra defeat, France's need for a win and their far superior resources should see them coast home relatively easily.



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Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring France's first goal against Netherlands with Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann on September 9, 2018
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain870121
Q Scotland flag Scotland852117
3 Norway Norway832311
4 Georgia Georgia82248
5 Cyprus Cyprus80080

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q France France871022
Q Netherlands Netherlands860218
3 Greece Greece841313
4 Ireland Rep. Ireland82066
5 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar80080

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England862020
Q Italy Italy842214
3 Ukraine Ukraine842214
4 Macedonia N. Macedonia82248
5 Malta flag Malta80080

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Turkey Turkey852117
Q Croatia Croatia851216
3 Wales flag Wales833212
4 Armenia Armenia82248
5 Latvia Latvia81073

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Albania national flag Albania843115
Q Czech Republic Czech Republic843115
3 Poland Poland832311
4 Republic of Moldova Moldova824210
5 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands80262

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Belgium Belgium862020
Q Austria Austria861119
3 Sweden Sweden831410
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan82157
5 Estonia Estonia80171

Group G

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Hungary Hungary853018
Q Serbia Serbia842214
3 Montenegro Montenegro832311
4 Lithuania Lithuania81346
5 Bulgaria Bulgaria80444

Group H

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Denmark Denmark1071222
Q Slovenia Slovenia1071222
3 Finland Finland1060418
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan1060418
5 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland103079
6 San Marino flag San Marino1000100

Group I

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania1064022
Q Switzerland Switzerland1045117
3 Israel Israel1043315
4 Belarus Belarus1033412
5 Kosovo flag Kosovo1025311
6 Andorra flag Andorra100282

Group J

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal10100030
Q Slovakia Slovakia1071222
3 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg1052317
4 Iceland Iceland1031610
5 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina103079
6 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein1000100


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