Ukraine vs France Prediction & Betting Tips - World Cup

Prediction published on 03/09/2021, 10:00  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/09/2021 at 11:01 in World Cup Predictions

France can take a massive step towards making it to the 2022 World Cup with a win in Ukraine. They top this group by four points from their opponents who can't afford to lose this match if wanting to finish top. France have eight points from their four games but have drawn two of them. The first was at home to Ukraine after taking a first half lead. Wins have come away in Kazakhstan and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Wednesday didn't go so well as they were held to another home draw, this time by the Bosnians. They went behind in that game but Greizmann leveled the scores four minutes later. France have now drawn their last four games but excluding penalty shoot-outs, they are unbeaten in their last 12 games and last lost an away game in 2019.  Again excluding extra time, three of their last five games have had under 2.5 goals scored in them. That stat has come up in six of their last eight away World Cup qualifers.

Ukraine drew in France earlier this year and that was a slight improvement on the 7-1 loss in a friendly played last year. Eight years ago they beat France 2-0 at home in a World Cup qualifier and could do with a repeat of that here. A loss takes them seven points behind France and if that happens, then their target will be to finish second and go into the play-offs. At present the other three teams in this group are all two points behind them and with one or two games in hand. Defeat here is likely to take them out of the top two with Finland expected to beat Kazakstan. Ukraine don't play in the next set of qualifers, so could drop even lower. They are yet to win in this group having drawn all four of their games. An 89th minute Pukki goal cost them a home win against Finland, a lead was also given away at home to Kazakhstan. The reverse fixture against Kazakhstan saw Ukraine concede a 96th minute equalizer, so they have had plenty of chances. Their last five home World Cup home qualifiers have all had under 2.5 goals scored in them. Go for that stat to come up here and a side bet on a draw.