Sweden v France: Vital Game in UEFA Group A World Cup Qualifier

The domestic season may have come to a close across Europe but there are some important World Cup Qualifiers to get through before players can enjoy their summer holiday. It’s a mixed bag of games this weekend but one of the most important comes from Group A where the top two teams face off in Solna on Friday.

A win for Sweden would see them take over from France at the top of the table but a defeat could see them slip below Bulgaria who are away to Belarus on the same night. It’s a crucial fixture for both teams but how do the bookies read it?

Match Odds

Despite conceding home advantage, France go into this game as favourites and can currently be backed at best odds of 8/11 with Paddy Power and William Hill. Victory for Sweden is listed at a top price of 26/5 with MarathonBet while the draw completes the result betting at 29/10 with MarathonBet once again.

When these teams met in Saint-Denis in the corresponding fixture last November, France ran out winners by two goals to one thanks to strikes from Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet. That’s evidence of how close these two teams could be matched and in fact, Sweden did take the lead on 55 minutes through Emil Forsberg.

We’ll now analyse the players who can make a difference in this match but there’s certainly some value and the draw looks particularly good at that 29/10 figure.

Individual Goal Scorers

France have five players who have scored two goals in this group so far with Payet and Pogba joined by Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Kevin Gameiro. Of those men, Griezmann is the favourite to open the scoring at a top price of 4/1 with SkyBet and Betway while Giroud is close behind at best odds of 9/2 with bet365.

Two players follow at best odds of 5/1 and you can get Alexandre Lacazette at that figure with bet365 and Kylian Mbappe with Betway and William Hill in a market that is dominated by French players.

As for Sweden, the name that could be of interest is that of Emil Forsberg who scored that goal for his country in the reverse fixture. Forsberg also has three goals in this qualifying campaign yet he is out at a top price of 16/1 with bet365 and 10Bet to open the scoring here.

That’s because he plays out on the wing but with a record like that, Forsberg has to be worth a wager in the anytime goal market at best odds of 7/1 with 32Red and 888Sport.

Other Side Bets

Sweden have scored in all of their 2018 qualifying games so far and although France drew a blank in their opener against Belarus, the Both Teams to Score Bet should be a popular one for Friday’s fixture. This is on offer at a best price of 23/20 with Coral and based on previous results, an odds against figure looks exceptionally good value.

Even if you are coming down on the side of the French you may have to concede that this game is going to be tight and, in the winning margin market, either side to win it by one goal can be backed at a best of 7/5 with Betway. Meanwhile, France by one is quoted at a top price of 5/2 with SkyBet.

There may not be too many goals in this one and, under the 2.5 line is on offer at 5/7 with 188Bet while you can go over at best odds of 13/10 with MarathonBet.

Of all the side bets, Both Teams to Score is our preference but as for the result, we were expecting the market to be a little tighter. France have the flair players and look far more exciting on paper but this Swedish unit is resilient and their record is close to that of the French right now. It all points to a tight game and, we’re therefore backing the draw at that excellent 29/10 price with MarathonBet.

Best Bets:

• The draw at 29/10 with MarathonBet
• Emil Forsberg to score anytime at 7/1 with 32Red
• Both Teams to Score at 23/20 with Coral