France will endeavour to maintain their perfect start to Euro 2024 Qualifying when they travel to the Estadio Algarve in Portugal to face Gibraltar in Group B on Friday.

This fixtures sees two nations at almost directly opposite ends of the FIFA world rankings come face-to-face, with last year's losing World Cup finalists France ranked second while Gibraltar are down in 201st position out of 211 nations.

Match preview

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Just over 10 years ago, Gibraltar were granted UEFA membership before entering the European Championship qualifiers for the first time a year later. However, after 20 qualification matches they are still searching for their first point let alone their first victory.

Indeed, the British Overseas Territory have lost all of their Euros qualifiers by an aggregate score of 93-5, including back-to-back 3-0 defeats against Greece and the Netherlands in their opening two fixtures of the 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.

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Six months on from their heartbreaking World Cup final defeat on penalties to Argentina, France are sitting pretty at the top of their Euro 2024 qualification group after winning their opening two games against the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland without reply.

A thumping 4-0 home victory over the Oranje in March, which saw newly-appointed captain Kylian Mbappe score twice, was followed just three days later by a narrow 1-0 win away against the Boys in Green, courtesy of a stunning long-range strike from Benjamin Pavard.

Didier Deschamps's men are firm favourites to consolidate top spot in Group B, as they sit three points clear of both Greece and the Netherlands who face each other on Friday, with Les Bleus then taking on the former in Paris next Monday.

France are unbeaten in each of their last nine European Championship qualifiers and have only lost one of their last 21 such fixtures over the last 13 years, while they have won each of their last four away qualifiers without conceding, although all four were against nations ranked outside the top 45.

Deschamps is sure to warn his players against complacency on Friday, but few will envisage Les Bleus coming up short against a Gibraltar outfit ranked 199 places below them.

Team News

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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.

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.

Gibraltar possible starting lineup:
Coleing; Sergeant, R. Chipolina, Lopes, Olivero, Britto; Hernandez, Pozo, Ronan, Casciaro; Coombes

France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, W. Fofana, Upamecano, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Y. Fofana; Coman, Griezmann, Mbappe; Kolo Muani

We say: Gibraltar 0-5 France

It would take a bold punter to back against France on Friday considering the significant gulf in quality between the two nations.

Just a draw for Gibraltar would go down as one of the greatest results in their history, but we expect Les Bleus to come away with a comprehensive victory and extend their lead at the top of Group B.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

Written by
Oliver Thomas

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