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France vs Bulgaria: Les Bleus looking to sign off Euro 2020 preparations in style

The Stade de France plays host as Didier Deschamps' side complete their Euros warm-ups.

When: Tuesday, June 8, 20:10 BST

How to watch: Sky Sports Premier League

Best bets

France to score 4+ goals at 15/8 (Sky Bet)

Marcus Thuram to score first at 5/1 (Paddy Power)

Olivier Giroud last goalscorer at 17/5 (Unibet)

France are favourites… will they feel the pressure?

Les Bleus enter Euro 2020 as reigning World champions, with an attacking depth that is the envy of all of Europe, barring perhaps Portugal.

With Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe, Marcus Thuram and Olivier Giroud in their ranks, Didier Deschamps' side boast serious firepower, while N'Golo Kante and Paul Pogba provide the energy in midfield.

However, the presence of European champions Portugal, as well as Germany, means optimism has been tempered somewhat.

Three teams could still progress from the group to the round-of-16, making France worthy 5/1 second favourites to win back-to-back tournaments with Paddy Power.

Last three meetings

Bulgaria 0-1 France (October 7, 2017)

A solitary early goal from Blaise Matuidi was enough to see France return to the top of their World Cup Qualifying group, ahead of Sweden.
It seemed the goal in the third minute would lead to the floodgates opening but that did not materialise as Matuidi's shot from an awkward angle proved to be enough to gain the three points.

France 4-1 Bulgaria (October 7, 2016)

Exactly a year earlier, France made light work of their opponents at the Stade de France.
Bulgaria took a shock lead from the penalty spot in the sixth minute, Mihail Alexsandrov converting.
Kevin Gameiro equalised with a powerful header from an excellent Bacary Sagna cross. France took the lead soon after when Dimitri Payet's cross evaded everyone in the box and found its way into the net.
A mistake before half-time was pounced on by Antoine Griezmann who fired low into the corner to make it 3-1.
France's fourth, and Gameiro's second, came just before the hour when he fired home following a lay-off from strike partner Griezmann.

France 3-1 Bulgaria (June 18, 1996)

The last time these two met in a tournament, at Euro 96, current France manager Didier Deschamps was captain of his country.
The meeting occurred in the group stage and victory for France meant they qualified as group winners. St James' Park played host to the match and France's team included Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram and Marcel Desailly.
Laurent Blanc opened the scoring in the first half and Luboslav Penev's own goal made it 2-0 to Les Bleus. Legendary striker Hristo Stoichkov halved the deficit with a free-kick before Patrice Loko's last-minute goal put the game to bed.

Last ten head-to-heads

France wins: 5

Draws: 2

Bulgaria wins: 3

France goals: 15

Bulgaria goals: 11

Do Bulgaria pose a threat?

Ranked 71st in the world, Bulgaria failed to qualify for the European Championship after coming third in a group containing England and Czech Republic and then losing in a play-off game to Hungary.
They shipped ten goals in their two games against England and don't fare so well at the opposite end of the pitch either - they have scored just 10 goals in their last 20 outings, three of which came against Gibraltar.

That 3-0 win was one of only two since October 2018 (the other being a 1-0 win over Czech Republic).

Warming up nicely

France defeated Wales 3-0 in their first warm-up match courtesy of goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Ousmane Dembele.

Karim Benzema also missed a penalty for France, while Wales had Neco Williams sent off for a handball in the first half.
The French boasted 75% possession and had 23 shots, 11 of which were on target.

Scoreline prediction: France 5-0 Bulgaria

Didier Deschamps is likely to rotate his squad and Thomas Lemar is the only known absentee. N'Golo Kante and Olivier Giroud are back in the international fold after winning the Champions League with Chelsea.

Given Bulgaria's lack of attacking threat and the battle for starting positions up front for France, it could pay to back a goal-fest from the World champions. Four-plus goals from France is 15/8 with Sky Bet.

Goalscorer bets

Marcus Thuram did not play a part for France against Wales

France used 17 players against Wales but Borussia Monchengladbach attacker Marcus Thuram was one of the few outfield players not to feature.

Son of France legend Lilian, he is 5/1 to score first with Paddy Power and 6/4 to score anytime with the same company.

Olivier Giroud is sure to get some game-time and is 17/5 to score at any time with Unibet.

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