France vs Nigeria Betting Tips, Prediction and Preview

France vs Nigeria betting tips and predictions for today’s World Cup last 16 match with free football betting tips for the World Cup.

The last time France won their group at a World Cup they went on to win the tournament. Emulating that achievement is still a long way off this time with at least four more wins required – the first of which having to come in the last 16 tonight against Nigeria which may now be more equal than would’ve been expected last week.

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Painful memories of a winless campaign in 2010 have already been eclipsed by France with a two-thirds devastating Group E performance, even showing their defensive strength in depth in their final group game on Wednesday.

But will the resilient attitude of Nigeria present a new challenge? France were heavily exposed against Ecuador – facing ten men for almost all of the second half, they struggled creating clear chances on goal, never giving the goalkeeper a difficult save to make. It was a severe off-day for the majority of the French midfield and Karim Benzema who failed to become just the third player to have scored in all three group games. They were a shade of the team who ran riot scoring five in 73 minutes against Switzerland just days earlier, but will be reassured that the creativity that was craved in midfield will return for the Nigeria game in the shape of Valbuena and Cabaye.

Nigeria will also take some hope from France's vulnerability to the counter after they survived scares on the break from Ecuador's limited attacking force. Ahmed Musa should pose the main threat in this respect after two neat runs and cool finishes in defeat to Argentina – the latter being just what Ecuador were missing.

A cause for concern, however, is France's ability to quickly turn defence into attack and that is why we cannot see past a French win for our France v Nigeria predictions today, but the Super Eagles may just be thankful to not be facing Lionel Messi again anytime soon after he found more than one way past a back-line that had defended so valiantly to keep out Iran and Bosnia. The defence must be on form if Nigeria's first venture into the knockout rounds since 1998 is to be a successful one.

The African side beat France 1-0 in their only previous meeting five years ago, but the French have already found their feet in this tournament and, despite a record that is far from dominant against African nations in the World Cup, the results from these encounters each provide a reflection of their tournaments as a whole – wins in 1998 and 2006 ended with France as champions and runners-up respectively, and losses in 2002 and 2010 meant a group stage exit in both. So far, it looks likely that 2014 will be one of those memorable years for France who were written off before the tournament began.

Nigeria will have to play at their absolute best to have any chance, but I doubt even that is enough to halt this French bulldozer just yet. Both sides should score, France through creativity and Nigeria through complacency, but France should calmly ensure their passage to the quarters with a couple of goals margin, still on course to emulate the success of 16 years ago.

France vs Nigeria Betting Tips

France to win and both teams to score – bet here at 11/4 with Coral: new accounts bet £5 get £20 free.

Kerim Benzema to score first – bet here at 4/1 with Ladbrokes: new accounts get a free £100 bet.

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