Austria vs France predictions: Euro 2024 tips and odds

Our betting expert provides three bets for the Group D opener tonight between Austria and France at Merkur Spiel-Arena in Düsseldorf (8pm BST kick-off).

Austria vs France betting tips

• France to win and both teams to score @ 21/10 with Betfred
• Christoph Baumgartner to score anytime @ 4/1 with Betfred
• Bet builder (PickYourPunt): Kylian Mbappe to score, Christoph Baumgartner 1+ shots on target, both teams to score and Adrien Rabiot 2+ fouls @ 7/1 with Betfred

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Austrians can make life tough for French

Les Bleus clearly have the quality to beat any rival at the 2024 European Championship and they should be able to open the tournament with a victory – but a goal for Austria is by no means out of the question.

This will be boss Didier Deschamps’ sixth major tournament in charge of France, and he has a perfect record in opening games: five wins in his previous five.

The French enjoyed a qualification run of seven victories before playing out a draw with Greece in what was for them a dead-rubber in their final fixture, and they defeated Austria 2-0 when these sides met in a Nations League game in Paris in September 2022.

That game came early in Ralf Rangnick’s tenure as Austrian boss and he has improved his side since. Das Team have scored in all 17 of their subsequent fixtures, and they can make their presence felt by getting on the scoresheet against a France side that have occasionally appeared vulnerable.

The French have just three clean sheets in their past nine games and those shut-outs came against Gibraltar, Luxembourg and Canada. Austria are a level above those three sides and should be able to strike in defeat against the World Cup runners-up.  

Austria vs France bet 1: France to win and both teams to score @ 21/10 with Betfred

Baumgartner an outside scorer option

There are a few French players who appeal in the goalscorer market but as an Austrian goal is expected there is greater value in finding a candidate to hit the net for the underdogs.

Michael Gregoritsch will lead the line for Rangnick’s men but he is not a particularly prolific scorer, with a modest seven goals in 32 Bundesliga games for Freiburg.

Austria’s greatest scoring threat could come from their midfield, and at 4/1 RB Leipzig man Christoph Baumgartner looks a decent outside bet to get on the scoresheet.

He had three goals in seven qualifiers for the Austrians and four in as many appearances in friendly games in 2024. The 24-year-old netted in both warm-up games, against Serbia and Switzerland, as Austria tested themselves with quality opponents, and he could prove to be a thorn in France’s side tonight. 

Austria vs France bet 2: Christoph Baumgartner to score anytime @ 4/1 with Betfred

Mbappe can fire France to victory

Baumgartner had 60 per cent of his shots either on target or blocked at club level with Leipzig, and he should be able to at least test the French keeper.

Kylian Mbappe is the focal point in the France attack and looks their most likely scorer, having netted and provided two assists in the warm-up game against Luxembourg.

Austria have scored in 17 consecutive fixtures and can keep that run going even if a goal is not enough to deny the French a victory.

France are expected to be without Real Madrid defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni tonight, so Adrien Rabiot is likely to start. He averaged 1.4 fouls per game for Juventus in Serie A and committed at least two in each of his final three appearances of the season.

Rabiot will feel the need to impress if he is to keep his spot ahead of Tchouameni and that could lead to a physical approach, so two or more fouls for the midfielder appeals.  

Austria vs France bet 3: Bet builder (PickYourPunt): Kylian Mbappe to score, Christoph Baumgartner 1+ shots on target, both teams to score and Adrien Rabiot 2+ fouls @ 7/1 with Betfred

Austria vs France odds

• Austria @ 9/2 with Betfred
• Draw @ 16/5 with Betfred
• France @ 4/7 with Betfred

Odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.

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