Israel vs France

Budapest’s Bozsik Arena forms the backdrop for Israel’s third-ever game in the UEFA Nations League A as they take on 2018 FIFA World Cup champions France.

Israel’s maiden campaign in the Nations League top flight has been off to a dreadful start, with Italy and Belgium beating Ran Ben Shimon’s side ‘to one’ across their opening two A2 outings. Slow starts have been Israel’s scourge in the early Nations League exchanges, as they conceded a first-half opener in both defeats. Stripped of the home-field advantage due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Israel must find a way to settle in the new surroundings, considering their impressive home performances have been the foundation of their memorable Nations League run (W4, D2, L1). Nonetheless, the Israelis have been in dreadful form in 2024, picking up just one win from five internationals (L4), courtesy of a 4-0 friendly rout of sub-par Belarus.

Meanwhile, France embarked on their fourth consecutive League A campaign with a lackluster 3-1 home defeat to Italy before righting their wrongs against Belgium last time out (2-0). However, this ‘Les Bleus’ squad has a point to prove after long-serving stalwart Antoine Griezmann called time on his international career and manager Didier Deschamps left his captain, Kylian Mbappe, out of the team for October fixtures. That’s not an ideal backdrop for France’s effort to improve their dismal Nations League record since winning the 2020/21 edition. They have since claimed just two wins from eight outings in this competition (D2, L4). But after the abovementioned triumph against the Belgians, the French could post back-to-back wins in regulation for the first time since November 2023.