Gibraltar vs France preview
The Euro 2024 qualification match has one of a clashing given by Gibraltar vs France Preview, as they meet on Group B stage, at Estadio Do Algarve on Friday meetings.
The match between these teams gives the clashing between the two teams that lies on the opposite rankings of FIFA cup. The last year’s losing World cup Finalists, France is being ranked as the second while Gibraltar is place 201 out of 211 nations.
Ten years ago, Gibraltar were granted UEFA membership before entering championship qualifiers, for the first time a year later. After 20 matches, they are still searching their path for their first victory.
The British territories have lost all of their Euro qualifiers, including a back to back 3-0 defeat against Greece and Netherland in their opening two fixtures of 2024 campaign in March.
Julio Cesar Ribas‘s side were 2-0 down against the Netherlands before Liam Walker was shown a straight red card six minutes after half time for a high tackle, and the Oranje went on to seal the victory with a deflected strike from Nathan Ake – his second goal of the match – eight minutes from time.
Unsurprisingly, Gibraltar sit bottom of Group B and they are expected to remain as the basement team unless they can take a few major scalps; an away clash next Monday with the Republic of Ireland, who sit level on zero points as things stand, is sure to be targeted by Ribas.
Before then, Gibraltar will play host to France at the Estadio Algarve in Portugal as their home venue Victoria Stadium does not meet the necessary requirements to host a UEFA fixture. The European minnows have never locked horns with Les Bleus before and they will regarded as huge underdogs on Friday.
Team news and injury
Gibraltar will be without the suspended Liam Walker, who nevertheless is one of five players along with Graeme Torrilla, Julian Valarino, Reece Styche and Michael Yome to have been left out of Ribas’s 25-man squad this month.
Niels Hartman earned his first international cap as a late substitute against the Netherlands in March, and the 22-year-old who plies his trade with Loughborough University in the ninth tier of English football will be pushing for his first senior start on Friday.
Forty-year-old captain Roy Chipolina is expected to link arms with fellow centre-backs Jayce Olivero and Bernardo Lopes, either side of full-backs Jack Sergeant and Ethan Britto in a five-man defence, while Cadiz midfielder Nicholas Pozo will be hoping to force his way into the first XI.
As for France, Adrien Rabiot has withdrawn from the 23-man squad due to a calf injury and has been replaced by Boubacar Kamara, who has cut his honeymoon short to link up with Deschamps and co.
William Saliba, Paul Pogba, Lucas Hernandez and N’Golo Kante are all still recovering from injury, but Christopher Nkunku, Ousmane Dembele and Wesley Fofana have all been recalled after missing the last international break due to injury, and the latter will be hoping to receive his first cap for Les Bleus on Friday.
Didier Deschamps may decide to select a four-man attack, with Mbappe on the left and either Kingsley Coman or Dembele on the right, while Antoine Griezmann could operate in the number 10 role behind either Olivier Giroud or Randal Kolo Muani leading the line.
Head-to-Head stats
France are playing Gibraltar for the first time in their history. French attacker Randal Kolo Muani had 26 goal contributions in 31 league starts for Eintracht Frankfurt this season. The Frankfurt player had a victory goal against Darmstadt with 4-2 in Bundesliga match. French forward Kylian Mbappe has 34 goal contributions in 32 league starts for Paris Saint-Germain this season. Kylian Mbappe will be sold by the PSG as his contract expires by the end of next season.
French striker Olivier Giroud has 18 goal contributions in 25 league starts for AC Milan this season. French left-back Theo Hernandez has seven goal contributions in 32 league starts for AC Milan this season.
Gibraltar vs France Prediction
Gibraltar will come to this game, would be given a taste of defeat in the match by France. On the other hand, France do have the talent, many feel that the nation have underachieved in recent years, but they sure will take the match with no sweat.
