France – Northern Ireland: Les Bleus look to calm the nerves before the World Cup
The final stop in the warm-up programme before the big flight out to the World Cup. France host Northern Ireland on Monday night at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille for one last friendly test. For France, this one has to wipe away the doubts left by their previous outing. Back on home soil, they will be aiming to put on a show. In front of their fans, the French players will be desperate to deliver something solid and convincing.
France need to tighten up at the back 
That surprise defeat to Ivory Coast was a timely wake-up call for the coaching staff. Didier Deschamps knows France cannot afford that sort of defensive carelessness in the finals. For this last warm-up, several big names are likely to return, even if the Champions League finalists may well start on the bench. France’s back line will probably be built around Dayot Upamecano and Jules Kounde. In midfield, France will lean on the power of Aurelien Tchouameni and the know-how of Adrien Rabiot to set the tone.
The attack looks dangerous, with Kylian Mbappe expected to lead the line. France know Northern Ireland will arrive with a deep, compact block that is far from easy to shift. Every player in the France camp knows a big performance tonight is vital ahead of their World Cup opener against Senegal. France have far greater squad depth and should wear their opponents down as the minutes tick by. Les Bleus are strong favourites by a mile, and the crowd will be expecting goals.
Northern Ireland bank on fearless youth 
Northern Ireland, for their part, missed their chance in the qualifying play-offs against Italy and will not be at the finals this summer. Even so, Michael O’Neill’s side have looked sharp and full of promise, built around a very young team that has just beaten Guinea in a friendly. Without Tom Atcheson, who is suspended after his red card, the brave Northern Irish will look to Trai Hume and teenage striker Jamie Donley to try to hold off the world No. 1 side and spoil the party in Lille.
Likely line-ups
France : Maignan ; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, T. Hernandez ; Tchouameni, Rabiot ; Dembele, Olise, Doue ; Mbappe
Northern Ireland : P. Charles ; McConville, Hume, Brown ; Smyth, McDonnell, S. Charles, Devenny ; Donley, Price ; Reid
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Football Prediction France vs Northern Ireland
Both teams to score – No
This final warm-up should see a French side fully switched on tactically and far more disciplined without the ball. After shipping two avoidable goals against Ivory Coast, Didier Deschamps’ men will be focused on defensive structure and, above all, on keeping a clean sheet to build some calm before the World Cup. France’s physical and technical edge at the back should leave the visitors with very little to work with.
Northern Ireland arrive with a very young, inexperienced group at this level. Faced with the relentless pressure France should apply through midfield, they are likely to spend long spells pinned deep in their own half and will struggle badly to get their forwards into the game. Counter-attack chances should be few and far between, and France ought to shut this one down without conceding.
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