Top-flight football heads into a two-week break with UEFA Nations League and World Cup qualifiers taking centre stage for the next 10 days. Later today, European giants France and Italy clash in a monumental encounter, then Brazil will host plucky Ecuador as they look to get their campaign back on track.

Event # 1 – NAT League – France vs Italy – 1:45PM

Two giants of international football collide in a heavyweight clash on Friday when France hosts Italy as the Nations League competition returns with a bang. In the just-concluded Euro 2024, France was knocked out at the semi-final stage by eventual winners Spain, while Italy made a meek defence of their Euro title. Now, both teams convene in Paris for a glittering showdown. France rarely convinced at Euro 2024, where they made it to the semi-finals, scoring just once outside of set-pieces and own goals, so they will be eager to impress in their opening Nations League match. With that said, France, who won this competition back in 2021, after beating Spain in the final, will be aiming to kick-start their campaign on a winning note.

If France was disappointing in Euro 2024, it’s fair to say Italy was embarrassing, as they barely scraped through the group stage with a stoppage time goal against Croatia, before being ousted at the first knockout stage. Amazingly, Italy had arrived at Euro 2024 unbeaten in six games and were expected to mount a serious defence of their title, but it all ended in shambles. Indeed, the Italians will be aiming to give a better account of themselves but might have difficulties securing a win on French soil, a place they haven’t done particular well over the years.

Key Stats

• France – France’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 semi-final was their first defeat in their last nine overall matches. However, they have not lost any of their last five home matches.

• Italy – Italy have failed to win any of their last six away matches in all competitions and have failed to score in two of their last three matches.

• Both sides – France have beaten Italy in their last three meetings, winning 3-1 the last time they met in Paris.

The betting tip. France win.

Event # 2 – WCQ – Brazil vs Ecuador – 8:00PM

Having started the World Cup qualifiers in disappointing fashion so far, Brazil will welcome Ecuador, hoping to shift their World Cup campaign in the right direction, as the South American giants have picked up just seven points from their opening six matches. Unexpectedly, Brazil is sitting sixth in the World Cup qualifying table, after six rounds of matches, which is simply not good enough for a country that arguably has the best talent currently available. With that said, Brazil haven’t been playing well recently, drawing four of their last five matches, with their only win coming against Paraguay. Having suffered defeats in each of their last three World Cup qualifiers, Brazil must beat Ecuador on home soil to get back on track.

Meanwhile, the plucky Ecuadorians have done well in the qualifiers so far, losing just once in their opening six matches. Ecuador’s defence has been their strong point during the qualifiers, having conceded just three times from their opening six matches, which is the joint-second best defensive record behind Argentina. Indeed, Ecuador have their sights set on a fifth appearance at the World Cup in 2026 and will be aiming to build on their 2022 qualifying campaign, where they won eight of their 16 matches in the opening round. They have maintained that form to start this campaign by winning three of their opening six matches, however, they currently sit in fifth position, still ahead of Brazil after they were deducted three points for using a false birth document for one of their players. Like Brazil, Ecuador could only make it to the quarterfinals of the Copa America last summer before being ousted by eventually winners Argentina, following a dramatic penalty shootout.

Key Stats

• Brazil – Four of Brazil’s last five matches have ended in draws after 90 minutes.

• Ecuador – Ecuador’s last two matches have both ended in draws.

• Both sides – Five of the last six head-to-head meetings between Brazil and Ecuador have seen less than three goals being scored.

The betting tip. Brazil win.

JUSTBET ODDS – France vs Italy

Friday, September 6, 2024

Prediction Odds on Prediction Odds Calculation

FRANCE TO WIN $1.64 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $1,640

ITALY TO WIN $5.00 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $5,000

MATCH TO DRAW $3.66 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $3,660

Odds on the Home Team (France) winning the game 3-1 at full time $13.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $13,000

Odds on the Away Team (Italy) winning the game 0-1 at full time $12.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $12,000

Odds on the game drawing 2-2 at full time $16.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $16,000.

JUSTBET ODDS – Brazil vs Ecuador

Friday, September 6, 2024

Prediction Odds on Prediction Odds Calculation

BRAZIL TO WIN $1.41 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $1,410

ECUADORTO WIN $7.50 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $7,500

MATCH TO DRAW $4.33 which means a $1,000 bet would pay $4,330

Odds on the Home Team (Brazil) winning the game 2-0 at full time $5.75 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $5,750

Odds on the Away Team (Ecuador) winning the game 0-1 at full time $16.00 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $16,000

Odds on the game drawing 1-1 at full time $8.50 which means that a $1,000 bet would pay $8,500.