Spain vs France Prediction: Back the home side to win at good odds

Amazon Prime have the rights for the Nations League Finals here in the UK and this game is set to kick-off at 20:00 on Thursday.

Our Spanish-based Betting expert has been given the assignment to preview this encounter and he's liking the chances of the home side in this one. You can read his full match preview below along with those all-important Spain vs France Predictions...

You can check out all of the Football Odds we offer over at betfred.com

One year on from their Euro 2024 semi-final, Spain and France meet in Germany again, this time in the last four of the UEFA Nations League. 

In terms of silverware, these have been the two most successful nations in Europe in recent years. Spain are gunning for a third title in as many summers, having also won the last edition of the Nations League, a year prior to their brilliant run to glory at the Euros. 

Meanwhile, 2018 world champions France have also tasted Nations League success, picking up the trophy in 2021. They defeated La Roja by a 2-1 margin in the final of that competition in Milan, with Kylian Mbappé scoring the winning goal, and the Real Madrid striker should lead the line for Les Bleus in Stuttgart on Thursday. 

That was a relatively rare recent success for France in this fixture though, with their southern neighbours winning six of the last nine meetings. The most significant of those clashes took place in Munich last summer when Lamine Yamal firmly announced his arrival as a global superstar with a stunning goal to help his side to a 2-1 victory. 

Yamal was still only 16 at that point, but he has matured and improved as a player even since his explosive Euro 2024 campaign. The Barcelona winger registered nine goals and 13 assists in La Liga in the season that has just finished, and he was also on target as Spain edged past the Netherlands in the quarter-finals of this competition. 

While the Nations League is not a competition that always sets pulses racing or grabs the imagination of the wider football public, that tie was as good an advert for Nations League football as you will see.

Both sides threw caution to the wind and it ended 5-5 on aggregate after six goals were shared in a thrilling second leg at Mestalla. It was Spain who held their nerve in the shootout, preserving their chances of reaching a third straight Nations League final. 

Luis de la Fuente's team head into this match unbeaten in 18 games since a friendly defeat to Colombia in London in March of last year. They've not lost competitively since a year prior to that, when they were surprisingly turned over by Scotland at Hampden Park in a Euro 2024 qualifier. 

France's record has not been anywhere near as impressive over the past 18 months. They were not a great watch at all at Euro 2024, but still managed to use their tournament know-how to reach the last four, despite scoring just four goals in six matches, with two of those coming from the penalty spot. 

Didier Deschamps continues to divide opinion in his homeland, but the long-serving France boss remains in charge and his team have shown more flashes of their immense attacking potential during this Nations League campaign. 

Despite some shaky home displays, Les Bleus won all three away games during the group phase, scoring nine goals across road fixtures against Israel, Belgium and Italy. 

They progressed into a quarter-final against Croatia, and like Spain they would need to win a shootout to advance into the last four, having recovered from a 2-0 first-leg deficit thanks to goals from Ousmane Dembélé and Michael Olise at the Stade de France. 

Team News: 

Spain have not been hit by any withdrawals from the initial squad named by De la Fuente, although Ferran Torres and Dani Carvajal are notable injury absentees. There's also no place for Rodri who is yet to reach full fitness despite recently returning for Manchester City. 

The big questions for the Spain boss heading into this fixture look to revolve around who to start in central defence. Dean Huijsen impressed on debut in the quarter-finals and has since signed for Real Madrid, but Robin Le Normand, Dani Vivian and Pau Cubarsí are alternative options at centre-back for this game. 

France are at a slight disadvantage in that seven of their players were involved in the Champions League final last weekend. Deschamps may decide it makes sense to only use Ballon d'Or favourite Dembélé off the bench in Stuttgart, while Désiré Doué has only featured once for the national team until this point, and could also see action in the second half. 

There are also a number of notable absentees at the back with defenders William Saliba, Dayot Upamecano and Jules Koundé not involved in this French squad, having all started the second-leg victory against Croatia in March. That leaves the likes of Ibrahima Konaté, Malo Gusto and Clément Lenglet in contention for starting roles. 

Spain vs France Odds

Spain are the 13/10 favourites to win the game in regulation time, while you can back the Draw at 9/4 and France at 11/5. Meanwhile, the Nations League holders are the 4/6 favourites to win the tie, while you can back Les Bleus at 11/10 in that market. 

If you're expecting goals, Both teams to score is priced at 4/5. You can also back Spain to score over 1.5 goals in the match at 5/4, while you can back La Roja to win and Both teams to score at 7/2. 

Alternatively, France are available at 2/1 to score over 1.5 goals, while they are priced at 11/10 to win either half. 

The favourites should line up with their usual wingers who did so much damage at Euro 2024. Nico Williams is available at 10/3 to score anytime in this game, while you can back Yamal at 21/10 in the same market. 

From a French perspective, Mbappé should offer the chief goal threat, with the 26-year-old priced at 5/1 to score first, and 9/5 to score anytime. Olise is also fresh from an excellent club season with Bayern Munich, and the winger is available at 4/1 to score anytime. 

Bet 1 - Spain to win @ 13/10 

Spain have been by some distance the most convincing international side in Europe over the past couple of years, and they've every reason to approach this latest opportunity to win a trophy, feeling very good about their chances. 

Even faced with a few significant injuries this season, they have coped well, with the likes of Martín Zubimendi coming into the side that won the Euros last summer, and looking right at home. 

There's a balance to Spain that has only rarely been evident with France in recent years. Given the defensive selection issues that Deschamps is dealing with heading into this match, and the likelihood that the PSG contingent may not be in optimal condition to go again so soon after their exertions at the weekend, I'm backing Spain to win at 13/10. 

Bet 2 - Over 1.5 goals & Lamine Yamal 3+ shots @ 5/4 

Last July's clash in Munich was an entertaining affair, and we should be set for another watchable game in Germany on Thursday, particularly given the greatest selection uncertainties for both managers lie in defence. 

Much of Spain's threat is likely to come down the right flank with Yamal who ended the domestic season in scintillating form. The teenager had at least three shots in all of his final nine Barça appearances, scoring against the likes of Inter and Real Madrid in the run-in. 

He's clearly feeling supremely confident right now, and I fully expect the winger to feature heavily in this game. Given that, I'm using the Bet Builder to back Over 1.5 goals and Lamine Yamal 3+ shots at 5/4.