On Friday, one of the most storied European football rivalries, France and Italy, will resume when they kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign at the Parc des Princes in Paris in what will be their first competitive meeting since 2008 Euros. 

With both teams aiming to bounce back after disappointing Euro 2024 exits, France and Italy will come into this encounter eager to start strong in the competitive Group A2 which has Belgium and Israel as the other two nations in that group.

France Aims for Redemption | Home Win = 1.70

France, led by Didier Deschamps, will look to make a statement after their semi-final defeat to Spain at Euro 2024. The French squad, though packed with talent, has faced criticism for their defensive style of play, which many believe held them back in the summer tournament.

Captain Kylian Mbappe, who struggled to hit top form during the Euros, will be expected to lead from the front in this Nations League campaign. The last time France competed in the Nations League, they finished a disappointing third in their group.

With a fresh campaign ahead, Deschamps knows the importance of securing maximum points at home, particularly with tough away fixtures against Italy, Belgium, and Israel to come. Injuries to key players like Wesley Fofana, Ferland Mendy, and Aurelien Tchouameni could affect their line-up, but with depth in the squad, Les Bleus remain firm favourites. 

Italy Looking for a Fresh Start | Away Win = 5.29

Italy, under Luciano Spalletti, is coming off a frustrating Euro 2024 campaign where they exited in the Round of 16 after a painful loss to Switzerland. Spalletti has since promised to bring clarity and consistency to his side, though the Azzurri are in the midst of a transition with several key players like Gianluca Scamacca and Nicolo Barella unavailable due to injuries.

Despite these absences, Italy will still rely on experienced players like goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and midfielder Sandro Tonali to guide a younger squad through a challenging Nations League group.

Italy finished top of their group in the last edition of this tournament, but with a revamped format and tougher competition, they’ll need a strong start against France to stay competitive, the good news for the Azzuris is that France themselves is not in their best form at the moment.

Key Players & Team News:

France will likely field a strong line-up despite injury issues, with Mike Maignan expected to start in goal. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann are likely to lead the attack, while N’Golo Kante should command the midfield.

Deschamps has also called up young talents like Michael Olise, who impressed in the Olympics, and Manu Kone, who could make his senior debut. For Italy, Donnarumma will guard the goal, with a new-look backline due to injuries to Gianluca Mancini and Alessandro Bastoni.

Striker Mateo Retegui is expected to lead the line in a 3-4-2-1 formation, while Sandro Tonali and Manuel Locatelli should provide stability in midfield. The lack of experienced forwards like Ciro Immobile and Federico Chiesa could limit their attacking threat.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.12

France has a favourable head-to-head record against Italy, winning seven (7) of their last twelve (12) meetings, including their most recent three (3) encounters. | Specials Market: Home & Over 1.5 = 1.95

Italy, meanwhile, defeated France 0-2 in their last competitive meeting against Les Bleu, in the UEFA Euros in 2008. | Specials Market: Draw/Away & Under 4.5 Goals = 2.24

Both France and Italy have seen under 2.5 goals happen in four (4) of their last five (5) meetings in all competitions. | Main Market: Under 2.5 = 1.90

You can follow and bet on the UEFA Nations League match, France vs Italy, on MSport here.

Argentina will return to World Cup qualifying action on Friday, September 6, hosting Chile at Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires. The reigning champions look to build on their impressive start in the Qualifiers, while Chile aim to secure a vital win to revive their campaign.

Argentina’s Dominant Run Continues | Home Win = 1.30

Argentina sit comfortably at the top of the South American standings with five wins from six qualifiers. They’ve been in excellent form, following up their World Cup triumph by winning the Copa America for an unprecedented 16th time this past July. 

Lionel Scaloni’s men have been resilient, with their only qualifying loss coming in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, marking just their second defeat in 62 games since July 2019.

Playing on home soil, Argentina will be confident of securing another win, especially against a Chilean side that has struggled in recent times. With a 71.4% win rate under Scaloni, Argentina has established itself as one of the most dominant forces in world football.

Chile’s Struggles Continue | Away Win = 11.10

Chile, on the other hand, have had a tough start to their World Cup qualification campaign. Currently sitting eighth (8th) in the standings, La Roja have managed just one win in their six games so far in the Qualifiers, a 2-0 victory over Peru. Defeats to Uruguay, Venezuela, and Ecuador, coupled with lacklustre draws, have put them in a difficult position.

However, with just 6 of 18 Qualifiers played, the Chileans still have the opportunity to turn things around, which is what they hope to do with the appointment of Ricardo Garreca, the new manager. After a poor showing in Copa America where they crashed out in the group stage, Chileans are desperate for good news, and that could start with Gareca’s seventh game in charge.

Key Players & Team News

Argentina will be without their talisman Lionel Messi, who is sidelined with an ankle injury, and defenders Nicolas Tagliafico and Leonardo Balerdi. Angel Di Maria and Franco Armani have also retired from international football, leaving room for new players to step up.

Valentin Barco, the only natural left-back in the squad, is expected to start, while Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez will lead the attack.

Chile will be without several veterans, including Alexis Sanchez, Gary Medel, and Arturo Vidal. Coach Ricardo Gareca has opted for a fresh approach, leaving out these key players, while Eduardo Vargas and Ben Brereton Diaz are expected to lead the frontline.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 5.05

Argentina have won five of their six World Cup qualifiers, conceding just two goals, while they have also won all their last five (5) games in all competitions. | Specials Market: Home win to nil (Yes) = 1.78

Chile have not lost to Argentina in their last two games as the away team (1-1, 1-1) while they also drew with them in their meeting before these two games, although that was at home (0-0). | Main Market: Under 2.5 = 1.89

Chile’s recent form has been poor, with just one win in their last five (5) matches in all competitions, where they managed to score in just two out of five games. | Specials Market: (O/U & GG/NG) Under 2.5 & No = 2.15

You can follow and bet on the World Cup qualifier, Argentina vs Chile, on MSport here:

Portugal will kick off their 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign on Thursday, September 5, against a formidable Croatia side at the Estadio da Luz in Lisbon.

This clash sees two of the tournament's most competitive teams, with Portugal having won the inaugural edition in 2019 and Croatia finishing as runners-up in 2023. 

Both teams will be eager to start their campaigns with a win, especially after disappointing Euro 2024 outings. Portugal will look to capitalize on home advantage, while Croatia aims to prove they can compete with Europe's best despite recent struggles.

Portugal Seeks Redemption | Home Win = 1.58

Portugal comes into this match after a mixed Euro 2024 campaign, where they exited in the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout loss to France. Despite their talent-rich squad, consistency has been an issue for Roberto Martinez’s side, highlighted by their shock 2-0 defeat to Georgia in their final group game of the competition.

Martinez, who has called up Cristiano Ronaldo yet again, will be keen to see his team return to winning ways. The Portuguese squad has undergone some changes, with the introduction of young talents like Geovany Quenda, Renato Veiga, and Tiago Santos.

These fresh faces will be eager to make their mark, alongside veterans like Ronaldo, who continues to be a key figure in the team. Portugal’s home record and the attacking prowess of players like Ronaldo, Leao, and Bernado, will be crucial in breaking down a resilient Croatian defense.

Croatia Aims to Bounce Back | Away Win = 6.14

Croatia, on the other hand, also suffered disappointment at Euro 2024, failing to advance past the group stage. Zlatko Dalic’s men managed only two points from their three games, a far cry from their recent success, including a third-place finish at the 2022 World Cup and a runner-up spot in the 2023 Nations League.

Despite this, Croatia remains a formidable side, with experienced players like Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic still at the helm. The Croatians will be without key players Marcelo Brozovic and Domagoj Vida, both of whom have retired from international duty, leaving gaps in their squad.

Injuries to Lovro Majer and Josip Stanisic further complicates Dalic's plans, but the team’s resilience and tactical discipline should not be underestimated. Croatia will look to their experienced core to guide them through a challenging away fixture.

Key Players & Team News:

For Portugal, the focus will be on Cristiano Ronaldo, who is in search of his 131st international goal. The team will also rely on the midfield creativity of Bruno Fernandes and the defensive solidity provided by Ruben Dias and Joao Cancelo. The inclusion of young players like Quenda and Santos adds a dynamic element to the squad.

Croatia, though short-handed, still boasts a wealth of experience. Luka Modric, Ivan Perisic, and Mateo Kovacic are expected to lead the charge, while younger talents like Petar Sucic may be called upon to fill the gaps left by injuries.

Match Stats & Betting Odds | Draw = 4.28

Portugal and Croatia have a history of closely contested matches, with only one of their last six encounters being decided by more than a single goal. | Specials Market: Home/Away & Over 2.5 = 1.97

In their most recent Nations League meetings, Portugal secured a 3-2 and 4-1 victory, but Croatia avenged this loss with a 2-1 win in a friendly before Euro 2024, meaning there have been over 2.5 goals in their last three (3) meetings. | Main Market: Over 2.5 = 1.86

Both teams have scored in all the last four encounters between Portugal and Croatia in all competitions (2-1, 2-3, 4-1, 1-1). | Main Market: GG/NG (Yes) = 1.96

You can follow and bet on the UEFA Nations League game, Portugal vs Croatia, on MSport here: