France aim to continue winning streak against South Africa

 

France are hoping to make it seven straight wins in all competitions when they host South Africa at Stade Pierre-Mauroy on Tuesday night.

Didier Deschamps’s men are going into the international friendly off the back of a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast on Friday.

On the other hand, South Africa is going into the match after playing a goalless draw with Guinea on the same evening.

Aurelien Tchouameni came up with the winning goal for the defending world champions to record their sixth straight in second-half stoppage time after Olivier Giroud had cancelled out a 19th-minute opener from Nicolas Pepe in Marseille.

This will be Deschamps’s side last international friendly before turning their attention to the UEFA Nations League, which begins at home to Denmark on June 3.

On their mind will be how to defend their crown in the 2022 World Cup. Having been eliminated early from the Euro 2020 tournament,  they are expected to make a serious impression in Qatar.

Les Bleus had picked up 18 points from their eight world cup qualifying matches to comfortably finish top of Group D, and breeze through their qualification process.

France is yet to lose a single game since the defeat to Switzerland at Euro 2020. They have also won their last three friendlies against Wales, Bulgaria, and Ivory Coast.

South Africa on the other hand is yet to record a win in their last two games; a goalless draw with Guinea on Friday, and a loss to Ghana last November.

Hugo Broos’s side will not be part of the 2022 Mundial, having featured played in three World Cups (1998, 2002, and 2010).

South Africa failed to make the playoff after finishing second behind Ghana in their qualification section despite picking up 13 points from six matches. Their defeat against Ghana on November 14 proved to be decisive.

They will have to wait till 2026 to have a chance of featuring in another world cup, however, they are expected to give their all against the world champions as they have nothing to lose.

Their last meeting against France was a 2-1 win at the 2010 World Cup.

However, France is a bookmarked favourite for this match.

 

Written by: Oladipupo Mojeed