Game Preview: Ukraine vs. France - World Cup Qualifications Playoff - 15/11/2013

Ukraine and France meet in the first leg of the World Cup qualifications playoff on Friday, November 15th, 2013 at the Olympic Stadium in Kyiv.

Ukraine earned their spot in the playoff by finishing second in a group H, which also featured England, Montenegro, Poland, Moldova and San Marino. Ukraine are undefeated in their last seven World Cup qualifying matches, including a 0-0 draw vs. England on September 10th, 2013.

France finished second in Group I, which featured the World and European Cup champions Spain, as well as Finland, Georgia and Bulgaria. During the qualifications, France won five matches, drew two and lost one (to Spain). In their last match vs. Finland, France looked alive.

The odds for the upcoming match in Kyiv are as follows:

Ukraine: 2/1
Draw: 11/5
France: 7/5

France are the favourites to win in Ukraine. A 100 € bet on Franck Ribery & Co. could return 140 € in profit, while the same bet on the hosts could return 200 € in profit.

In-form Real Madrid striker, Karim Benzema, and the Newcastle United forward, Loic Remy, are the favourites to score at 9/4. Yevhen Seleznyov, who plays his football at FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, is the favourite to score for Ukraine at 12/5.

France team looks very good at the moment. Solid in every position. With the likes of Lloris, Evra, Ribery, Giroud, Nasri, Pogba, Koscielny, Benzema and Remy on the team sheet, one would not be surprised to see France win the whole thing in Brazil.

But they will have to get by Ukraine first.

Can Ukraine produce an upset in this two-legged tie?

The two teams meet again at Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Tuesday, November 19th.

Should be a great game!