Tournament odds: 13/2 (Bet365)
Betting Tips and Recommended bets with odds
France should finish top of Group C and they should do so comfortably, with Peru and Australia in particular featuring nothing to fear for Didier Deschamps side. Denmark beat France 2-0 at the 2002 World Cup, but that was a France team well below par – it is telling that France have won all three meetings between the two teams since, meaning a clean sweep of wins in the group stage is likely.
France are as low as 2/7 with Bet365 to top Group C to reiterate the dominance they are expected to show – and it is little surprise when you consider the strength in depth at Deschamps’ disposal. Just a glance at the quality of players who missed out on selection shows just how much talent France can call upon in their 23-man squad.
Should France win Group C, they will face the runners-up of Group D – Croatia are favourites for that, while Iceland are contenders – in the last-16, and then potential quarter-final opponents include Uruguay and Portugal. With a favourable draw until the quarter-finals, it would be a surprise not to see France there – and probably with a 100 per cent record so far too. They are 1/2 with Bet365 to reach the quarter-finals.
A rematch with Portugal – after losing at home to the Portuguese in the Euro 2016 final – will be a chance for vengeance for the French, and after showing good form against the likes of Germany in their pre-tournament friendlies is a big chance for them to reach the semi-finals once again. Worst case scenario for France would be Spain in the quarter-finals, but if the Spanish are there then they would likely already have been beaten by Portugal in the group stage. As a result, France to reach the semi-finals at 6/5 with Bet365 looks a decent bet.
There, however, it is expected to be tournament favourites Brazil awaiting in the semi-final, and the prospects of the French progressing further will be slim if the Selecao live up to expectations in Russia.
Nevertheless, with a potential for all seven games played – including the 3rd/4th place play-off – and the likelihood of goals in the group stage too, it could be worth looking to the French for potential golden boot winners too. Antoine Griezmann is the stand-out name and has dropped to 12/1 with Bet365 to finish as tournament top goalscorer. Other French strikers include Kylian Mbappe (33/1 with Bet365) and Olivier Giroud (40/1 with Bet365 and Ladbrokes).
Recommended bet France to reach the semi-finals at 6/5 with Bet365, and Antoine Griezmann to win the golden boot at 12/1 with Bet365