France vs Ivory Coast
World Cup 2026 hopefuls France continue their warm-ups on Thursday with a tricky test against Ivory Coast in Nantes.
The latest SBOTOP International Friendly 2026 betting odds make Didier Deschamps’ Bleus favourites to win this game and as the second favourites to lift the trophy, behind Spain and ahead of England, and he undoubtedly has one of the deepest and most talented squads on the planet. And many of these top players will be on show against the Cote d’Ivoire when they kick off in the Loire.
The 2024 African Cup of Nations winners are managed by Emerse Fae, and they have their own fair share of household names. But they shouldn’t be a match for Les Bleus this week.
Talking Points
Mbappe eyes Giroud’s record
With 56 international goals from just 96 appearances, France skipper Kylian Mbappe is one behind Les Bleus ‘ all-time top scorer Olivier Giroud, and surely the 27-year-old is set to pass the former Arsenal star over the next five weeks. He won the Pichichi as La Liga’s top scorer, and Mbappe was on target in a recent 2-1 win over Brazil. At 27 years of age, he is in the prime of his career, and the sky is the limit for Mbappe, who has already plundered 56 goals in 65 games for Los Blancos.
Manchester City star Rayan Cherki is another player to watch. Although the Sky Blues lost the Premier League title race to Arsenal, they did win a domestic cup double, and Cherki was sensational in the second half of the campaign. And the 22-year-old is sure to make some special International Friendly 2026 highlights this week. And then there is PSG star Ousmane Dembele, who scored the penalty that helped the Parisians win the Champions League final against Arsenal, and he is joined by teammates Bradley Barcola and Desire Doue, the latter bagging a brace in France’s 3-1 win over Colombia last time out, while Marcus Thuram added a third.
Arsenal defender William Saliba will meet the Paris boys for the first time since the Champions League final, and the centre-back will need some cheering up. But I’m sure he’ll be fine before Les Bleus meet Norway, Iraq, and Senegal in the USA.
Ivory Coast’s handy attack
The Cote d’Ivoire are in a tough group at the World Cup, comprising Germany, Ecuador, and the new boys of Curacao. But they will certainly give it a go, with an attack which can’t quite match France, but does have plenty of speed and firepower.
Former Arsenal star Nicolas Pepe, now at Villarreal, is joined by two Premier League stars with explosive pace in Crystal Palace’s Evann Guessand and Amad Diallo of Manchester United. RB Leipzig’s exciting young winger Yan Diomande will test opposition full-backs too.
Behind the frontline, captain Franck Kessie, now playing at Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League, has 15 goals in 102 appearances and, still only 29, the former AC Milan star is a powerful presence in the centre of the park and in the dressing room. Behind Kessie, Nottingham Forest’s defensive midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is a class act, while AS Roma’s Evan Ndicka is at the heart of defence.
In two friendlies since an African Cup of Nations defeat to Egypt, the Cote d’Ivoire have scored five unanswered goals, and they will meet France without fear.
History
Les Bleus are making their 17th appearance at the World Cup, as twice winners, in 1998 and 2018, and they will hope the gap between their second and third triumphs is smaller than 20 years.
Meanwhile, this is Ivory Coast’s fourth appearance at a World Cup finals, having qualified in 2006, 2010, and 2014, but they are yet to emerge successfully from the group stage.
The two nations have met three times before, with France winning two and drawing one. The last meeting in 2022 ended in a 2-1 win for France, as Les Bleus came from behind with goals from Giroud and Aurelien Tchouameni after Pepe had given the underdogs a lead.
The Ivory Coast have won three and lost one in 2026, beating Scotland last time out, while France have won both of their 2026 friendlies so far, against the South American heavyweights of Colombia and Brazil.
Betting Tip
At odds of 1.30 to win, Les Blues look nailed on for a successful encounter with the Cote d’Ivoire, who are priced out at 9.00, with the draw at 4.75 and the Double Chance: Ivory Coast or Draw is at 3.25.
For a correct scoreline, a 2-0 home win is at 5.90, and how about a goal for Mbappe?
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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