France will face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Strasbourg’s Stade de la Meinau on Wednesday. France will be looking to keep their undefeated start to World Cup 2022 qualifiers. Les Bleus return to action after a disappointing last-16 exit at Euro 2020, while Bosnia remains without a victory in their opening two Group D matches on their way to Qatar.
FRA VS BHZ: Team Preview
France has made a good start to their qualification campaign. The first round of games was held at the end of March, with the French winning two and drawing one to take the lead in Group D. These triumphs came against Kazakhstan and Bosnia, while Deschamps’ team drew an exciting game with Ukraine, who is four points behind in the second position. France has a good attacking talent, including Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, and Karim Benzema, who led the squad in scoring in the Euros with four goals. The French have also impressed defensively, maintaining clean sheets in their previous two qualifying matches, including a shutout over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina have struggled in recent weeks, with many important players struggling to find their best form. They continue to rely heavily on their captain Edin Dzeko. Ivaylo Petev’s men have been winless for a long time, with their last victory coming in November 2019. Bosnia and Herzegovina are still looking for their first win in the qualifications, having been defeated 0-1 at home by France in their last match. The Dragons have struggled to score goals recently, having failed to score in their past four matches across all competitions.
FRA VS BHZ: Head-to-Head
France has never lost against Bosnia and Herzegovina, having won three and drawn two of their previous five meetings. Antoine Griezmann’s lone goal gave Les Blues a 1-0 victory in the opening match of the qualifying round.
Recent Form
France: WWDDL
Bosnia & Herzegovina: DDLDL
Match Details:
Name– France vs Bosnia & Herzegovina
Date: Wednesday, 1st September/ Thursday, 2nd September (India)
Timing: 12:15 (IST), 20:45 (CET)
Venue: Stade de la Meinau (Strasbourg)
FRA VS BHZ: Squads to choose from
France
Hugo Lloris, Mike Maignan, Steve Mandanda, Lucas Digne, Leo Dubois, Theo Hernandez, Presnel Kimpembe, Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane, Kurt Zouma, N’Golo Kante, Paul Pogba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Corentin Tolisso, Jordan Veretout, Karim Benzema, Kingsley Coman, Moussa Diaby, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar, Anthony Martial, Kylian Mbappe.
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Kenan Piric, Ibrahim Sehic, Nikola Vasiljev, Anel Ahmedhodzic, Branimir Cipetic, Eldar Civic, Dennis Hadzikadunic, Sead Kolasinac, Marko Mihojevic, Selmir Pidro, Sinisa Sanicanin, Darko Todorovic, Gojko Cimirot, Josip Corluka, Obren Cvijanovic, Amer Gojak, Amir Hadziahmetovic, Rade Krunic, Stjepan Loncar, Miralem Pjanic, Amar Rahmanovic, Miroslav Stevanovic, Haris Duljevic, Ermedin Demirovic, Edin Dzeko, Luka Menalo, Smail Prevljak.
FRA VS BHZ: Probable Playing XI
France: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Kimpembe, Digne, Tolisso, Pogba, Mbappe, Griezmann, Coman, Benzema.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Sehic, Cipetic, Sanicanin, Kolasinac, Civic, Pjanic, Cimirot, Stevanovic, Gojak, Krunic, Dzeko.
Key Players
France: Antoinne Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Paul Pogba.
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Edin Dzeko, Miralem Pjanic, Sanicanin, Kolasinac.
FRA VS BHZ: Dream11 Team
Hugo Lloris, Sead Kolasinac, Raphael Varane, Lucas Digne, Presnel Kimpembe, Sinisa Sanicanin, Miralem Pjanic, Paul Pogba, Antoinne Greizmann(VC), Edin Dzeko, Kylian Mbappe(C).
Final Prediction
France are the favourites to win against Bosnia. Bosnia, on the other hand, are on a 13-game losing streak and are rated significantly lower than their opponents for the day. They also have an unsettling h2h record against them.
Also Read: 2022 World Cup Qualifiers: France vs Bosnia and Herzegovina Live Stream, Preview and Prediction
