On Monday night, France host Turkey in what could be a crucial clash in Group H of qualifying for next year’s European Championships. The two teams are neck and neck at the top of the group standings.

France (Odds of 2/7 for victory)

The reigning world champions head into this clash second-place in the group, behind Monday night’s visitor’s courtesy of an inferior head-to-head record. Turkey recorded a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture.

However, France have won their other six games in the group, including a potentially crucial 1-0 win in Iceland last time out in qualifying. Didier Deschamps team have also been pretty stingy in defence, keeping three clean sheets in four games, while conceding just once in the process. Les Bleus have also scored at least twice in three of their last four qualifiers.

France have a good recent home record in qualifying for the European Championships, as they are unbeaten in seven qualifiers on home soil, having recorded six victories.

Unsurprisingly, Les Bleus have been highly effective at both ends of the field in those seven home qualifiers, scoring at least twice on six occasions, while also keeping five clean sheets.

Despite a plethora of injury problems, France can still name a strong starting line-up. Boss Deschamps may name the same starting eleven as last time out. Watch out for Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud, who has now scored in two of his last three appearances for his national team, while scoring four goals in qualifying despite not always being first-choice striker.

Turkey (Odds of 9/1 for victory)

The visitors have been one of the best performing teams in qualifying for Euro 2020. They have kept pace with the European champions and courtesy of that win against Deschamps side earlier in the group top the table.

Their priority is just qualifying for next years tournament, as although they made Euro 2016, they had failed to qualify for two of the previous four European Championships.

Senol Gunes’ team kept up their good record in qualifying by recording a 1-0 home win over Albania in their last qualifier, with Everton forward Cenk Tosun scoring his fifth goal in qualifying.

The visitors have a pretty impressive recent away record in qualify for European Championships, as they have won four of their last five matches on their travels in qualifying, scoring at least twice in three of their last away qualifiers. They have also managed four clean sheets in five matches on their travels in qualifying.

Conclusion

Turkey have been close to flawless in qualifying so far, with their only slip up a 2-1 defeat in Iceland. Gunes men look set to seal one of the two qualifying spots, but getting a result in Paris would be their biggest achievement from the campaign.

Unfortunately for the visitors, France are formidable on home soil and should have enough quality to see off Turkey’s threat. Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud does not feature much for his club side but looks a decent bet for anytime goalscorer at evens.

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Verdict: Back the home win at odds of 1/ 4 and/or Olivier Giroud to score at any time at evens. (All odds are taken from Bet365).

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Will France move to the top of Group H with a victory in Paris?