France will have to secure maximum points against Israel to boost their hopes of finishing top of League A Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League.
They will host Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday evening. They already secured a 4-1 away victory in the reverse fixture held in Budapest last month.
France began their campaign with a 3-1 loss at home to Italy. Since losing their opening Nations League match, France have picked up nine points from the available nine.
Randal Kolo Muani had scored three goals in between both legs in Les Bleus’s win over Belgium. After scoring twice against the Red Devils in a 2-1 away victory last month, Didier Deschamps’ men cling on to secure precious points despite playing the last quarter of March plus stoppage time with ten men.
France, which won the competition in 2021, is ranked second globally by FIFA. They are currently second in League A Group 2, with just one point separating them from Italy, whom they will face in their potentially pivotal final fixture in Milan on Sunday.
France only need a draw against their guests to secure their spot in the Nations League quarter-finals provided Belgium fail to defeat Italy in their penultimate group fixture. However, if Belgium beat Italy and France fail to secure a win against Israel, they will be at risk of entering the relegation playoffs.
France have a good head-to-head record against Israel. Deschamps’ men have not lost any of their last seven games against the Israelis in all competitions.
They have recorded only two wins from their four home encounters, though. They recently played out a goalless draw at the Stade de France in a World Cup qualifier back in September 2004.
Meanwhile, there is a concern that this match might not go ahead as planned. This is following the horrific scenes of violence that broke out in Amsterdam last week between Ajax and Maccabi Tel-Aviv supporters, against a backdrop of high tension caused by the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
This has prompted the National Security Council to advise Israelis to avoid cultural and sporting events in European countries, including France, while they should also be “extra careful about concealing” anything that could identify them as Jewish.
In order to forestall the breakdown of unfortunate outcomes, thousands of extra police will be on duty. French President Emmanuel Macron will also attend the game in a gesture of “fraternity and solidarity.”
Israel are yet to find their feet in the Nations League campaign. They have all been defeated by Italy, France and Belgium, who are highly ranked above them, leaving them rooted to the foot of League A Group 2.
A defeat for the Sky-Blue and Whites will lead them to their relegation to League B. However, if Belgium beats Italy, their only hope of survival is if they win their remaining two matches, including one against Belgium on Sunday, and somehow prevail in the relegation playoff.
Israel is ranked 81st in the world by FIFA. Ran Ben Shimon’s side have been playing away from their homeland for some time.
Their only previous triumph in France was a 3-2 victory in World Cup qualifying back in October 1993, with Deschamps playing in France’s midfield that day.
