After a 2-1 victory over Australia in the first game of the Group C, France has a chance to get one step closer to the knock-out phase with a victory over Peru this Thursday, June 21st, 2018, at Ekaterinburg Arena. On the other side, Peru will have to win this game to stay in the competition for the Round of 16, while with the potential draw, the Incas will depend on other results in the Group C of the 2018 World Cup.
France vs. Peru
3-Way: 1: France -190; X: +333 Draw; 2: Peru +600 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1: France -115; Peru +100
Total +2.5: Over -125; Under +100
Both Teams to Score Yes/No: -105/-125
FRANCE
The Blues started their World Cup campaign with an unconvincing 2-1 win against Australia, as Didier Deschamps’ boys struggled for the most of the time to create chances in the final third, having a lot of problems with Socceroos’ sturdy defense. The forward trio Antoine Griezmann – Kylian Mbappe – Ousmane Dembele didn’t operate well, but substitutes Olivier Giroud and Nabil Fekir both added aggressiveness, while France was pretty lucky to get that second goal and three points out of the opening game.
With plenty of talent among their squad, the Blues just have to play better, so Didier Deschamps will have a serious task to improve his tactical setup and try to get the best out of his players. It seems like the midfield is struggling to orchestrate the play, particularly Paul Pogba who should be a key figure with his technical skills. The bookies are also unimpressed with France’s display, setting the Blues at +700 to beat the 2018 World Cup, while the odds on reaching the Semi-Finals are set at +137. However, it was just one match, so the Blues will have a chance to show something more in further games.
PERU
The Incas are certainly the biggest losers of the 2018 World Cup so far, as they were beaten by Denmark 1-0 in the first match, despite they were a far better team than Danes, creating numerous of dangerous scoring opportunities. Poor finishing job, magnificent Kasper Schmeichel between the sticks and a bad luck are all creditable for a 1-0 defeat that put Incas in a quite difficult position ahead of the next match with France. Peru will have to avoid the loss against the Blues to stay in the race for the second round, but they will have to try to win this affair, although they are considered as huge +600 underdogs.
Against Denmark, the manager Ricardo Gareca omitted the striker Paolo Guerrero from the starting eleven, probably worried about his fitness, but Gareca will need all his arms to get something out of the clash against France. Guerrero is the team’s all-time top goalscorer, so his presence from the kick-off should be a huge boost for Incas. Peru showed some exceptional short-passing game in the match with Danes, and if they continue with the same attitude, upsetting the odds versus Blues would be possible.
France vs. Peru – Match and Odds Breakdown
On a paper, France is a far stronger team than Peru, but the Blues’ recent form is far away from their best, so this could be a tricky game for the European vice-champions. The Blues have the advantage over Incas in aerial duels, for sure, but we’ll see if they are capable of retaining the ball on their feet against pacey Peru team. On the other side, the Incas will have to play more defensively than they did in the opening round, while their quick frontline could cause some serious damage on the counter.
France showed some weaknesses on the right flank of their defensive line after Djibril Sidibe’s injury, as it seemed like the youngster Benjamin Pavard doesn’t have the quality to be a proper replacement for Monaco’s star. If Sidibe miss this clash, and at this moment he’s still doubtful, France could have enormous problems with Christian Cueva and Andre Carrillo who are both fleet and skillful players. I expect to see Paolo Guerrero in the starting lineup, so Peru could find the back of the net here, while the odds on both teams to score are quite tempting at -105.
The bettors should also consider wagering on the totals, as we could easily see some goals on this one, despite the importance of the game. France’s defense doesn’t look sturdy enough, but if Blues find the right attacking flow, then Peru’s defense will be under fire.
The Pick: Over 2.5 Goals (-125)
