France vs. Portugal: Key Issues That Will Shape International Friendly

France and Portugal meet at the Stade de France in Paris on Saturday for an international friendly as part of the 2016 UEFA European Championship’s qualifying Group I. Although there are no points at stake, because Les Bleus are not an official part of the qualification process, the host nation still must face each member of Group I in a bid to enjoy semi-competitive preparation ahead of the tournament on home soil in two years’ time.

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23 - This will be the 23rd meeting between France & Portugal (W16, D1, L5). Supremacy.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 10, 2014"

This weekend’s clash is one of a number of testing fixtures for Didier Deschamps’ men, with opponents Portugal, Serbia, Montenegro and Denmark comprising a challenging group along with Armenia. Fernando Santos will make his debut as Portugal coach and will see it as good preparation ahead of next Tuesday’s key qualifier away to Denmark in Copenhagen.

Here are some key issues that will shape France and Portugal’s friendly clash this Saturday.

France’s Defensive Injuries

Darko Vojinovic/Associated Press

France will be without three of their regular starting defenders at the Stade de France on Saturday.

Arsenal duo Mathieu Debuchy and Laurent Koscielny are missing, as well as Liverpool’s Mamadou Sakho. Real Madrid’s Raphael Varane and Juventus’ Patrice Evra are still available but team captain and Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is also expected to be rested.

With three of Deschamps’ regular back five positions likely to be up for grabs in this game, it gives the likes of Manchester City pair Bacary Sagna and Eliaquim Mangala a chance to impress, not to mention Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu. AS Roma’s Newcastle United loanee Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa might also get a look-in, despite being a last-minute call-up in place of Koscielny.

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270 - France have only conceded 1 goal during the 270 minutes played by Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa. Emergency.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 9, 2014"

Portugal will look to exploit France’s lack of familiarity at the back.

Fernando Santos Makes His Portugal Debut

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

It will be Portugal’s first match under the leadership of former Greece coach Santos and a chance for many to stake their early claims for inclusion. The 60-year-old showed himself to be extremely pragmatic when in charge of the Greeks and the Selecao need him to be the same with them.

While the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo will not find his position in the side under threat for obvious reasons, almost every other starting berth in the team is up for grabs.

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73% - France have won 73% of their games against Portugal (16/22), their best ratio against an opponent faced min. 20 times. Boss.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 10, 2014"

Hosts France present a good test ahead of a difficult trip to Copenhagen to face Denmark in Group I on Tuesday, so Santos’ players will need to impress immediately. The tactician’s arrival could have a reinvigorating effect on what was previously a stagnating side.

Can Gignac Translate Club Form onto International Stage?

Claude Paris/Associated Press

Perhaps the most interesting of Deschamps’ selections for this 23-man squad is the inclusion of Olympique de Marseille’s Andre-Pierre Gignac.

Enjoying one of the most prolific spells of form in his career under Marcelo Bielsa at present, the 28-year-old fully deserves his recall to the national team and adds some much-needed competition in attack.

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3 - France have only failed to score 3 times in their 22 previous encounters with Portugal. Generous.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 10, 2014"

Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema is a doubt for the match with a hip injury suffered in training, so it is possible that Gignac starts the match with Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud also missing through injury. The OM star was last handed a chance by Deschamps in September of last year and he failed to take it, this time he will hope to make more of an impression.

An in-form Gignac could prove more than a match for the returning 36-year-old Ricardo Carvalho of AS Monaco in the Portugal defence come Saturday.

Portugal Preparing for Denmark

Elsa/Getty Images

While France are only using this match as continued preparation for Euro 2016, already knowing that they will be competing as hosts, Portugal face more of a fight to make it to the tournament than they probably expected.

A 1-0 home defeat to Albania brought Paulo Bento’s tenure as coach to an end and now makes the Portuguese far from certainties to qualify.

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8 - France have won their last 8 encounters with Portugal. Run.

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) October 10, 2014"

Next Tuesday they take on Denmark in Copenhagen and need a result. New tactician Santos must get his team firing against France in order to boost confidence ahead of that trip to Telia Parken.

If they were to slip to defeat against Morten Olsen’s men there, the Selcao’s chances of reaching France in two years’ time would be put in real jeopardy.