France and Germany will be the final two teams to get their Euro 2020 campaigns underway when they meet in their Group F opener in Munich on Tuesday.
It certainly looks like being a heavyweight tussle between World Cup winners France and three-time European champions Germany, with both teams aiming to make a fast start in the so called group of death that also contains Portugal and Hungary.
World Champions to Make Winning Start
Les Bleus have an embarrassment of riches to choose from and their squad is arguably stronger than it was at the World Cup three years ago, as Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema has returned following six years in the international wilderness.
A run of one defeat from their last 20 games certainly suggests Didier Deschamps’ side are in good form and they are also unbeaten in their five previous meetings with Germany on German soil, although the only such encounter to take place in Munich ended 0-0.
Germany failed to qualify from their group at the last World Cup and inconsistency has hit Joachim Low’s side of late as, despite picking up some impressive wins, they have been thrashed 6-0 by Spain and lost at home to North Macedonia in recent months.
France certainly look the more polished of the two teams and it would be no surprise to see the world champions make a winning start on German soil at 7/4.
Benzema to Have Major Impact
It was a shock to all concerned when Benzema was recalled to the France squad ahead of the Euros, with the 33-year-old being rewarded for a fine season at club level where he scored 30 goals across all competitions.
Benzema made his comeback for France in their pre-tournament friendlies against Wales and Bulgaria, although there were some concerns regarding his fitness when he limped out of the latter of those matches last week.
However, the former Lyon star has since been declared fit to play and he is expected to lead what looks a frightening attacking line alongside Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
The last of Benzema’s 27 international goals came against Armenia in October 2015, but he looks good value to end that wait on Tuesday at 5/2.
Goals Galore Expected in Munich
France have scored in each of their last seven internationals and they have goals throughout their squad, with Benzema, Mbappe and Griezmann having netted a combined 81 for their country, while Olivier Giroud has 46 on his own.
Germany are also used to scoring as they have netted in 25 of their last 26 matches and they struck seven in their final warm-up match against Latvia last week.
However, keeping clean sheets has also been as issue for Die Mannschaft, as they have conceded in 11 of their previous 14 fixtures.
Goals certainly should be on the cards in Munich given the firepower in both squads, which makes backing over 2.5 in the match a tempting option at 51/50.
*All odds correct at time of writing