France v Honduras odds : 12/1 on Benzema to score anytime
The latest France v Honduras odds, team news and match preview as ‘Les Bleus’ kick off their World Cup campaign in Rio.
Much is expected of this new French side, as Didier Deschamps brings a new found confidence and team spirit that performed so badly in 2010.
Match Facts:
Group E favourites France kick start their World Cup campaign with a match against tournament outsiders Honduras.
France go into the competition in excellent form, having thrashed both Norway and Jamaica (granted not amazing footballing nations) before flying to Brazil.
Didier Deschamps side nearly failed to reach the World Cup though, although they managed to overturn a 2-0 play-off deficit to Ukraine.
Franck Ribery will miss the competition through injury and Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin was drafted in as a replacement.
Honduras hasn’t enjoyed the best of World Cup warm-ups, losing to Israel and Turkey, although they did frustrate England.
They qualified from the CONCACAF region with a game to spare and will only miss Rangers midfielder Arnold Peralta through injury.
Sunday’s fixture will be the first time the two have ever met.
World Cup best: France winners (1998); Honduras twice group stage (Most recent 2010) 2010 World Cup: France group stage; Honduras group stage
Squads in full
France
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris, Stephane Ruffier, Mickael Landreau
Defenders: Mathieu Debuchy, Lucas Digne, Patrice Evra, Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Eliaquim Mangala, Mamadou Sakho, Raphael Varane
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye, Blaise Matuidi, Morgan Schneiderlin, Rio Mavuba, Paul Pogba, Moussa Sissoko, Mathieu Valbuena
Forwards: Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Antoine Griezmann, Loic Remy, Remy Cabella
Honduras
Goalkeepers: Noel Valladares, Donis Escober, Luis Lopez
Defenders: Brayan Beckeles, Emilio Izaguirre, Juan Carlos Garcia, Maynor Figueroa, Victor Bernardez, Osman Chavez, Juan Pablo Montes
Midfielders: Edder Delgado, Luis Garrido, Roger Espinoza, Jorge Claros, Wilson Palacios, Oscar Garcia, Andy Najar, Mario Martinez, Marvin Chavez
Strikers: Jerry Bengtson, Jerry Palacios, Carlo Costly, Rony Martinez
Team news
Laurent Koscielny and Bacary Sagna look set to miss out in favour of Mamadou Sakho and Mathieu Debuchy respectively.
With Ribery out injured, Antoine Griezmann looks set to come in and will start out wide left, with Mathieu Valbuena on the opposite flank.
Deschamps has settled with a 4-3-3 formation, meaning Paul Pogba will be given real licence to get forward from midfield.
Honduras are likely to name a similar side to the one that held England last weekend.
Maynor Figueroa will play centre half, with his normal position of left-back given to Emilio Izaguirre.
They will keep the 4-4-2 formation, which could come back to bite them, with Carlos Costly and Jerry Bengtson leading the line.
France (4-3-3): Lloris, Debuchy, Varane, Sakho, Evra, Matuidi, Cabaye, Pogba, Valbuena, Benzema, Griezmann
Honduras (4-4-2): Valladares, Beckeles, Bernandez, Figueroa, Izaguirre, Garrido, Palacios, Garcia, Espinoza, Costly, Bengston
