France vs. Sweden: Date, Time, Live Stream and Preview

International friendlies are hardly renowned for getting pulses racing, but Tuesday’s meeting between France and Sweden has all the ingredients of a thriller.

Not just for the sheer fact that both sides’ squads simply ooze quality, but because they’ll be going out with a point to prove after a set of disappointing results.

While Sweden were held to a 1-1 draw at Montenegro on Saturday, France stuttered on their way to the same scoreline at home to minnows Albania—so, expect backlashes from all fronts.

Date: Tuesday, November 18

Time: 3 p.m. ET/8 p.m. GMT

Venue: Stade Velodrome, Marseille

Live Stream: WatchESPN (U.S. only)

Euro 2016 Hosts Need Boost

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Being the hosts of a major tournament comes with a certain level of expectation. However, in France’s case, when Euro 2016 rolls around, only lifting the trophy is enough.

If that’s to happen, though, manager Didier Deschamps needs to find the formula to make his side tick and show the kind of form that made them a formidable force in World Cup 2014.

Deschamps fielded a strong side against the Albanians, and although Friday’s visitors are a bigger footballing nation than they once were, France should really have put them to the sword.

Michel Euler/Associated Press

Les Bleus looked incredibly flat in their 4-3-1-2 formation, and it wasn’t until Atletico Madrid man Antoine Greizmann came off the bench that they began to show some class.

Griezmann added the width that was seriously lacking before his introduction, and it wasn’t surprising to see him score the equaliser on the night with a stunning solo effort—as La Doce’s video shows:

"

GOL de @AntoGriezmann #Francia 1-1 #Albania https://t.co/wwMGTk2VWx

— La Doce (@ladocecommx) November 14, 2014"

Such a performance will have warranted a starting berth for the winger, but Deschamps isn’t the kind of manager to give up on a system, which means the same starting XI may well be fielded against Sweden.

However, one man who will be missing out is Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin, who picked up a knock in Friday’s friendly after coming on as an 80th-minute substitute.

Sweden, meanwhile, will need a shake-up from the squad that came so close to taking a victory away from Montenegro.

The mercurial Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave his side an early lead (below via Bleacher Report UK), before Stevan Jovetic had the last laugh with a well-taken penalty late in the game.

However, the bad news for Erik Hamren’s side is that they’ll be without the PSG striker in France; he will sit out with the heel problem that has plagued his fitness for many months now—per journalist Robin Bairner:

With the skipper on the sidelines, John Guidetti may finally be given his chance to lead the line, and that’s something that gets Ibrahimovic’s seal of approval.

The Manchester City striker, on loan at Celtic, has shown a lethal touch in front of goal in the Scottish Premiership this season, impressing his international captain in the process—per Mark Wilson of the Scottish Daily Mail:

"

He has played, made many goals and it’s good that he lets his feet speak. That’s the way he should go on, let your feet speak for themselves. You just have to continue. The doors have always been open, and it’s about how you are performing in your club team. It’s all about how you perform in your club team. John has done so wonderfully well in the Under 21s. That’s how he should go on.

"

Risto Bozovic/Associated Press

Guidetti is the kind of player who just needs half a chance to make his mark on a game, and if France play the way that they did against Albania, the youngster may well enjoy a fruitful night.

However, the fact remains that the French have lost just once in 2014, per SoccerWay, and their style of being hard to beat is what makes them such a force.

It could all come down to who seizes their chances, and with the quality that the French have, you have to lean toward them.

Prediction: France 2-1 Sweden