France managed to rebound after their unexpected 3-1 loss to Italy last September in the Nations League.
Since that setback, Les Bleus have secured three consecutive wins in Group A, defeating Belgium 2-0 soon after their loss to the Italians and then clinching two more wins last month—a 4-1 victory over Israel followed by another 2-1 triumph over Belgium.
This strong performance has placed France second in the standings, just one point behind Italy. Earlier this year, Didier Deschamps’ team reached the Euro semifinals but fell to Spain, 2-1, without showing a truly standout performance.
Israel, having climbed to the top league last season, has struggled in this competitive group, failing to earn any points in their first four matches.
They began with losses to Belgium (3-1) and Italy (2-1) in September and continued to face challenges in the last international window, losing 4-1 to France and then 4-1 again to Italy. With no wins so far and no appearance in the last Euro, Israel’s chances of staying in League A are slim.
Several key players are absent from the French squad. Kylian Mbappé, with 86 caps and 48 goals, is once again missing, along with teammates Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ferland Mendy due to injuries.
Also not included are Pavard, Fofana, and Coman, while veterans Giroud and Griezmann have retired from international duty. Goalkeeper Chevalier has received his first call-up to replace Areola, and experienced midfielders Rabiot and Kanté return.
Deschamps has also kept trust in core players like Maignan, Upamecano, Saliba, Konaté, Koundé, and Theo Hernandez. In attack, he has included Barcola, Dembélé, and Kolo Muani, who scored twice against Belgium last month. Additional names on the roster include Thuram, Olise, and Nkunku.
Israel, meanwhile, sees few changes to its squad. Key absences include goalkeeper Glazer, defender Baltaxa, and midfielder Lavi.
The team is largely composed of players from the domestic league, with notable names like Oscar Gloukh from RB Salzburg and experienced forward Manor Solomon. Dor Peretz and Gandelman, who scored against France last month, will also be available.
Prediction
Israel has struggled significantly on the road since rejoining the UEFA Nations League, picking up only one point from a possible 17 and conceding 12 goals while scoring just three.
France, with 12 wins in their last 18 top-tier home games, will likely feel confident facing an Israeli team in poor form.
Final Score Prediction: France 2 – 1 Israel
