France got their W. Cup campaign underway last Saturday with victory over Australia, in a game which was overshadowed by the use of VAR. Both French goals required the use of video technology, while Australia got a penalty decision of their own after a stupid handball from defender Samuel Umtiti.
The score flatters France slightly as they had to work for their victory and showed signs of rustiness. Again, despite playing a part in the second goal, Paul Pogba struggled to influence himself on the game, while they were also tested elsewhere on the pitch. They were heavily backed before the start of the W. Cup and they need to live up to their billing as one of the pre-tournament favourites.
Peru lost their opening game to Denmark and appeared slow out of the blocks. However, their performance improved significantly when former captain Paolo Guerrero came on as a second half replacement. Peru must beat France to keep their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages alive and you can’t rule them out of getting a result in this crucial Group C clash.
France vs. Peru Predictions
Although it took Peru a little while to get going against Denmark, they’re not an easy side to play against and they’ll be keen to demonstrate their talent against a French team who aren’t playing to their full capability. There’s every chance that this game could end as a draw and although that would help France more, it would also increase the pressure on Didier Deschamps.
France vs. Peru Betting Tips
- France to win: 20/43
- Draw: 33/10
- Peru to win: 6/1
- Paolo Guerrero to score anytime: 33/10
- 2-2 final score: 15/1
Head to Head
- France and Peru’s only previous encounter was a friendly in April 1982. The South American side won 1-0 at the Parc des Princes.
- The last South American team to beat France at the W. Cup were Argentina in 1978. Since then, France are unbeaten in their last seven W. Cup fixtures against CONMEBOL opposition (W3 D4), with three of their last four games ending goalless.
- France have kept a clean sheet in each of their last six W. Cup games against South American sides. Brazil’s Careca is the last CONMEBOL player to score against France in the competition, back in the 1986 W. Cup quarter-final.
- Peru are winless in their last five W. Cup encounters against European opposition (D2 L3), their last win coming against Scotland in 1978.
- Peru are winless in their last seven W. Cup matches (D2 L5).
- South American side Peru mustered 17 shots in their opening game against Denmark, but still failed to find the net in a 0-1 defeat.
- After consecutive defeats against Mexico and South Africa in 2010, France are unbeaten in their last four group stage games in W. Cup finals (W3 D1 L0).
- Antoine Griezmann has been directly involved in nine of France’s last 13 goals scored in major tournaments, with seven goals and two assists.
- Having become France’s youngest ever player in a major tournament in their opening match, Kylian Mbappe is also looking to become their youngest-ever goalscorer in a W. Cup or European Championships, with David Trezeguet vs. Saudi Arabia in 1998 currently holding the record (20y 246d).
- France’s Olivier Giroud made just three passes in his 20-minute appearance in their opening game victory against Australia, but one of these was the assist for Paul Pogba’s winning goal.
France Squad
Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Steve Mandanda (Marseille), Alphonse Areola (Paris Saint-Germain), Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Benjamin Mendy (Manchester City), Benjamin Pavard (Stuttgart), Adil Rami (Marseille), Djibril Sidibe (Monaco), Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid), N’Golo Kante (Chelsea), Blaise Matuidi (Juventus), Steven N’Zonzi (Sevilla), Paul Pogba (Manchester United), Corentin Tolisso (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona), Nabil Fekir (Lyon), Olivier Giroud (Chelsea), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Thomas Lemar (Monaco), Florian Thauvin (Marseille),
Peru Squad
Pedro Gallese (Veracruz), Carlos Caceda (Municipal), Jose Carvallo (UTC), Aldo Corzo (Universitario), Luis Advincula (Lobos), Miguel Araujo (Alianza Lima), Alberto Rodriguez (Junior), Christian Ramos (Veracruz), Anderson Santamaria (Puebla), Miguel Trauco (Flamengo), Renato Tapia (Feyenoord), Pedro Aquino (Lobos), Yoshimar Yotun (Orlando City), Sergio Pena (Grenada), Edison Flores (Aalborg), Paolo Hurtado (Vitoria Guimaraes), Wilder Cartagena (Veracruz), Nilson Loyola (Melgar), Christian Cueva (Sao Paulo), Andre Carrillo (Watford), Jefferson Farfan (Lokomotiv Moscow), Andy Polo (Portland Timbers), Raul Ruidiaz (Morelia)