Kick-off: 2000, 10/07/2022
Stadium: New York Stadium
TV: BBC
France have never quite lived up to expectations on the international stage but head into their Euro 2022 opener with Italy in better spirits.
Les Bleues were impressive in qualifying and have rattled off 14 straight wins since losing a friendly to world number one USA 15 months ago.
We like 2.05 for them to prevail and over 2.5 goals as our first France Women vs Italy Women prediction.
France Women Odds
Lyon’s incredible success at club level, dominating the Champions League for a decade, has not been replicated by France due partly to internal squabbles with head coach Corinne Diacre.
Record scorer Eugenie Le Sommer and former captain Amandine Henry remain out of favour despite another European triumph for Lyon this term.
However, Diacre’s decision to bring through younger players from a variety of teams appears to be paying dividends.
Les Bleues dropped just two points from eight qualifiers, with 44 goals scored and none conceded, while Finland, Brazil and Netherlands were beaten in February’s Tournoi de France.
Towering defender Wendie Renard is still the talismanic captain and is always a threat from set-pieces, scoring 33 times from 131 international appearances.
PSG forward Marie-Antoinette Katoto is rapidly becoming just as influential, though, with 25 goals from 30 caps a great ratio.
If Diacre can tone down her notoriously dictatorial style of management and benefit from a less toxic dressing room environment, anything is possible for this talented team.
Looking at the France Women vs Italy Women odds, we’re taking 4.33 for Les Bleues to win by exactly two goals.
Italy Women Odds
Italy impressed when reaching the 2019 World Cup quarter-finals and will be keen to improve on a moderate Euros record since being runners-up in 1993 and 1997.
Juventus forward Cristiana Girelli fired them through a tricky qualifying group as one of the best runners-up, with a 3-1 home loss to table toppers Denmark the only blip.
Speedy winger Barbara Bonansea is another star performer alongside Valentina Giacinti in a very lively front three.
Roma’s Manuela Giugliano is part of a young and dynamic midfield and the Azzurre did well at the Algarve Cup, beating Denmark and Norway before losing to Sweden on penalties.
Italy are going in the right direction under head coach Milena Bertolini and should advance ahead of Belgium and Iceland from this pool.
However, Les Bleues are a tough team to face first up, so 2.95 for the favourites to win and both sides to score is added to our France Women vs Italy Women betting tips.
Additional stats
Last result:
FRANCE 7-0 Vietnam – Cascarino, Diani (2), Toletti, Katoto, Mateo, Tounkara
ITALY 1-1 Spain – Bergamaschi
Head-to-head: France 1-1 Italy, Italy 2-3 France, France 0-0 Italy
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