Match preview
Following the demise of their bid for back-to-back UEFA Nations League titles, France will resume League A Group 1 duties at home against Austria on Thursday night.
Les Bleus are facing a devastating relegation to League B, while their visitors are not faring much better, sitting in third place with four points.
Even the goal-scoring brilliance of Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe couldn’t save France from going winless in June, as Didier Deschamps watched his team fall to the bottom of their Nations League group.
For whatever reason, the French squad simply did not gel in the summer – although scheduling four Nations League games immediately after a hectic domestic season may have played a role – and top spot is now firmly out of reach.
While their Nations League title will soon be relinquished, France still has a World Cup trophy to defend before the end of the year, with Australia, Denmark, and Tunisia all in contention.
Austria’s victory this week would officially relegate France to League B, but Ralf Rangnick’s side are not out of the woods yet, having gone winless in their final three Nations League games in June.
After a 3-0 win over Croatia to start the 2022-23 tournament, Austria took just one point from the next nine available, succumbing to goals from Jonas Wind and Andreas Skov Olsen in a 2-0 loss to Denmark last time out.
With no World Cup to prepare for, Das Team can channel all of their competitive energy into their Nations League survival bid, and Rangnick will prepare his team for two friendlies in November against fellow Qatar absentees Andorra and Italy.
France vs Austria form guide
France’s last 5 games – WWLDL
 France | 0 – 1 |  Croatia |
 Croatia | 1 – 1 |  France |
 France | 1 – 2 |  Denmark |
 France | 5 – 0 |  South Africa |
 France | 2 – 1 |  Ivory Coast |
Austria’s last 5 games – LDWLL
Denmark  | 2 – 0 |  Austria |
Austria  | 1 – 2 |  Denmark |
Croatia  | 0 – 3 |  Austria |
Austria  | 2 – 2 |  Scotland |
Wales  | 2 – 1 |  Austria |
France vs Austria prediction
Even with a number of key players out due to injury, Deschamps can still call on a plethora of talented names who will be eager to impress with World Cup spots on the line.
Austria are missing a number of experienced internationals and have less of a physical threat up top without Kalajdzic, so we expect Les Bleus to right the wrongs of the summer and boost their survival chances with a straightforward win, hence we go with the following pickings:
- FRANCE TO WIN @ 1.38
- HOME CLEAN SHEET – NO @ 1.73
- 1X2 & MULTI GOAL 1-4-FRANCE & 1-4 GOAL @ 1.63
*DISCLAIMER: Odds are subject to change
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