France-Nigeria: Betting Match Preview

France vs. Nigeria, International friendly, June 2, 2009

To most punters, this looks like a home win and for the bookies, France are the odds-on favourites, however, with nothing to play for and led by their charmless coach Raymond Domenech, this could well be a famous day for Nigeria and your chance to pocket some lolly from the bookies.

Domenech, surely one of the luckiest international managers of all, is fortunate to still be in a job following Les Bleus’ horror show at Euro 2008.

He has urged his players that the upcoming friendly matches against Nigeria and Turkey this week “should be met with the same determination [as a World Cup qualifier]. This is not tourism.”

One can understand Domenech’s position, but if you are a French player at the end of a long, hard season you are no doubt aware that France’s next World Cup qualification game doesn’t take place until Aug. 12 and that is against the Faroe Islands.

Opponents Nigeria on the other hand have much to play for, as they take on Kenya in a World Cup qualifier next Sunday and they drew with the Republic of Ireland on Friday night, shorn of some of their best players.

As a result, the likes of Joseph Yobo, Jon Mikel Obi, Nwankwo Kanu and Dickson Etuhu should be raring to go against the French. Meanwhile, the home side will be without Thierry Henry and all in it looks like Nigeria could cause an upset.

If you needed more evidence that Nigeria could pull off a result, shock the bookies and fatten your wallet, here is what Nicolas Anelka has to say about the upcoming France friendlies this week:

“We start pre-season training on July 6. They don’t take into account the France team so we lose a week of holiday and that’s what bothers me, I’m not sure matches before holidays help preparation.”

Nigeria are 9/2 to win against France and a draw is priced at 13/5, odds here.