Friday's international friendly betting tips: Previews, predictions and odds

France vs Côte d'Ivoire

France play their first match of 2022, a year they hope will end with them becoming the first side to retain the World Cup since 1962.

Didier Deschamps' side will travel to Qatar as reigning World Champions having added the UEFA Nations League trophy to their collection back in October.

Also last year, les Bleus made light work of World Cup qualification, so come into this one following five consecutive competitive wins.

Will France kick off 2022 with a friendly victory in Marseille?

Côte d'Ivoire meanwhile, unlike their hosts, will not be at this year's World Cup, despite appearing at all three editions between 2006 and 2014.

Les Éléphants were eliminated in the second round of African qualifying, finishing just below Cameroon following a final matchday defeat in Douala.

Since then, Patrice Beaumelle's side have gone out the Africa Cup of Nations at the round of 16 stage, crashing out at the hands of Egypt on penalties.

In general, the Ivory Coast are not in a good place right now, hoping for a statement win at Stade Vélodrome to boost morale.

France to win and over 2.5 goals is 6/5. France to win and both teams to score NO is 1/1.

Luxembourg vs Northern Ireland

After memorable moments for both in 2021, what will the new year bring for both Luxembourg and Northern Ireland?

12 months ago, the hosts enjoyed their most impressive win of all time, beating Republic of Ireland 1-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Dublin.

The Red Lions also defeated Azerbaijan home and away, thereby ending a European qualification campaign with 3+ victories for just the second time.

Thus, Luc Holtz's side will be looking to continue their rise up the international football ladder in 2022.

As for Northern Ireland, all eyes are on trying to qualify for Euro 2024.

Ian Baraclough's side only managed to beat Lithuania in their World Cup qualifying group, but did hold European champions Italy to a goalless draw last time out.

Will either enjoy a victory at the recently-opened Stade de Luxembourg?

Under 2.5 goals is 1/2. Draw and under 2.5 goals is 13/5.

Romania vs Greece

Two sides, looking to recapture former glories, go head-to-head in București.

Romania have qualified for seven World Cups in their history, reaching the quarter-finals at USA '94, but the last of these was in 1998.

The Tricolours missed out on Qatar 2022 qualification as they finished third in their group, one point below North Macedonia.

This saw Mirel Rădoi lose his job as Head Coach and replaced by Edward Iordănescu, who'll be looking for a debut victory here.

Greece meanwhile qualified for two World Cups, three Euros and a Confederations Cup between 2004 and 2014, famously lifting the trophy in 2004.

However, Brazil 2014 remains their last major tournament qualification, winning just two of eight World Cup 2022 qualifiers.

So, they too have a new Head Coach with Gus Poyet in charge for the first time here after taking over from John van 't Schip.

Which new manager will make a winning start at Stadionul Steaua?

Over 2.5 goals is 7/5. Romania to win and over 2.5 goals is 4/1. Alexandru Mitriță is 8/1 to break the deadlock and 10/3 to score anytime.

Norway vs Slovakia

After a disappointing end to 2021, the new year brings new optimism for Norway.

Last time out, Ståle Solbakken's side were beaten 2-0 by Netherlands in Rotterdam and it would prove to be a very costly defeat.

The Lions thereby slipped down to third in their World Cup qualifying group, below Holland and Turkey, not even securing a play-off spot.

So, Norway still haven't qualified for a major tournament since Euro 2000, but certainly have the talent to change that in the next 18 months or so.

Slovakia meanwhile also finished third over in World Cup qualification Group H, below Croatia and Russia, winning just three of ten fixtures.

However, unlike their hosts, the Falcons have very recent major tournament experience, going out in the Euro 2020 group phase.

Štefan Tarkovič, who led them to that tournament, will be hoping his country make it a third straight Euros in Germany in two years time.

Will there be a winner at Ullevål?

Both teams to score is 6/5. Erling Håland has scored 12 goals in just 15 senior caps. He is 12/5 to score first and 5/6 to add to this tally.

Bosnia & Herzegovina vs Georgia

After three failed campaigns, will this be the start of a cycle that ends with Bosnia & Herzegovina qualifying for a major tournament once again?

In 2021, Ivaylo Petev's side won just one of their eight World Cup qualifiers, finishing fourth in the group, below France, Ukraine and Finland.

Thus, the Golden Lilies' only major tournament remains World Cup 2014, falling in the play-offs for each of the last three European Championships.

Having only won two of their last 21 internationals, one of which was a friendly against Kuwait, Bosnia would love a morale-boosting win in Zenica.

Georgia meanwhile have never qualified for a tournament, but came close to reaching Euro 2020, falling to North Macedonia in the play-off final.

Willy Sagnol's side didn't win any of their first six World Cup qualifiers, but ended the campaign with back-to-back wins over Kosovo and Sweden.

Will there be a winner at Stadion Bilino Polje?

Both teams to score NO is 8/13. Bosnia to win and both teams to score NO is 6/4. Edin Džeko is 5/2 to score first and 10/11 to add to his 60 international goals.

South Africa vs Guinea

After their fair share of disappointment in recent years, will this be the start of a bright future for South Africa?

12 months ago, Bafana Bafana missed out on a place at the Africa Cup of Nations, eliminated in qualifying by minnows Sudan.

Then, in November, Hugo Broos' side failed to get to the final round of World Cup qualifying, losing a final matchday showdown to Ghana.

Now, will South Africa claim a rare victory in this friendly in Kortrijk?

Guinea meanwhile were at the most recent AFCON in January, reaching the round of 16 where they exited to surprise package the Gambia.

Before then, Kaba Diawara's team disappointed in World Cup qualifying, failing to win any of their matches against Morocco, Guinea-Bissau and Sudan.

The National Elephants will host AFCON 2025 so are determined to be as strong as possible ahead of hosting a tournament for the very-first time.

Will there be a winner at Guldensporen Stadion?

Under 2.5 goals is 4/7.

Andorra vs Saint Kitts & Nevis

After a mixed campaign in World Cup qualifying, can Saint Kitts and Nevis build on their relative success in 2022?

Last year, the Sugar Boyz caused a big upset by eliminating Trinidad & Tobago in the first round of World Cup qualification.

However, St. Kitts and Nevis were then beaten in the two-legged second round, going down 6-0 to El Salvador on aggregate.

Now though, their focus will turn to qualifying for a first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup.

To get there, they'll need victories in their Nations League C group later this year; the draw takes place on 4 April.

In this one, they'll face one of European international football's minnows Andorra.

The Tricolours beat San Marino home and away in World Cup qualifying to take their tally to five competitive wins in total, from 134 internationals.

Koldo Álvarez's side will host another Caribbean nation Grenada on Tuesday, so these will be good gauges of their progress.

Who will win at Estadi Nacional in Andorra la Vella?

Over 2.5 goals is 27/20. Saint Kitts & Nevis to win is 13/8.

Malta vs Azerbaijan

Two European nations, neither of whom have ever qualified for a major tournament, meet in this friendly in Ta' Qali.

Azerbaijan have invested heavily in football, notably the Baku Olympic Stadium, but their national team doesn't seem to have got any better for it.

Gianni De Biasi's side didn't win any of their World Cup qualifiers, only amassing one point from a draw with Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

So, Azerbaijan have won just one of their last 23 competitive games, only beating Cyprus, Faroe Islands and San Marino since October 2016.

Malta's record is even less impressive, even if they did enjoy an historic victory last September.

The Reds' 3-0 hammering of Cyprus during World Cup qualification was the biggest win of Malta's 65 year international history.

Devis Mangia's side also held Slovakia to a 2-2 draw in Trnava, but still contrived to finish bottom of Group H.

Will either enjoy a rare victory at Grawnd Nazzjonali?

Both teams to score NO is 4/7. Azerbaijan to win and both teams to score NO is 9/4.

Liechtenstein vs Cape Verde

After a fantastic run at Africa Cup of Nations 2021, can Cape Verde build on that recent success?

As recently as January, the Blue Sharks reached the round of 16 at AFCON where they were eliminated by eventual winners Senegal 2-0.

Nevertheless, that was just the third time Cape Verde had qualified for the tournament, so to reach the knockout phase is an achievement.

Bubista's side are facing three friendlies in Europe this week, the first of which took place on Wednesday night in Orléans.

Jovane Cabral and Gegé got the goals at Stade de la Source as Cape Verde defeat CONCACAF side Guadeloupe 2-0.

The African side should be confident of another victory here, given the recent record of their opponents.

Liechtenstein lost nine of their ten World Cup qualifiers in 2021, conceding 34 goals and scoring just two.

Although, one of those goals did earn them a point in Yerevan; Noah Frick's late equaliser snatching a 1-1 draw against Armenia.

Overall, the Blues-Reds have only ever won nine competitive games, most recently beating San Marino during the 2020 Nations League.

Nevertheless, Cape Verde should be far too strong in San Pedro del Pinatar.

Cape Verde to win and over 2.5 goals is 8/15. Cape Verde to win and both teams to score NO is 1/4. 

Latvia vs Kuwait

Will Latvia enjoy a rare victory?

In 2021, they won just two of their ten World Cup qualifiers with both victories coming against Gibraltar, both by the same 3-1 scoreline.

So, since qualifying for their only major tournament, Euro 2004, Latvia have won just 26 of 119 competitive internationals.

Will Dainis Kazakevičs' side kick off the new year with a win?

Kuwait meanwhile have actually qualified for a World Cup in their history, appearing at Spain '82, but haven't come close to repeating that since.

The Blue Wave were eliminated from World Cup 2022 qualifying in the second round, finishing a distant second to Australia in Group B.

This means Vítězslav Lavička's side still have work to do if he's to lead Kuwait to an 11th AFC Asia Cup in China in 2023.

They'll face Indonesia, Nepal and Jordan in June, probably needing seven points to guarantee qualification.

Will the Asian side be too strong in this friendly at Grawnd Nazzjonali in Malta?

Under 2.5 goals is 8/11. Both teams to score NO is 1/1. Kuwait to win is 21/10. 

San Marino vs Lithuania

Will San Marino enjoy a very rare victory?

In 2021, la Serenissima lost all ten World Cup qualifiers, scoring just once and conceding 46, most recently going down 10-0 at home to England.

This is no surprise because San Marino have never won a competitive game, losing 147 of 152, conceding 669 goals in total.

Their only victory to date came in a friendly against Liechtenstein 18 years ago, so can Fabrizio Costantini's side change that here?

Lithuania meanwhile did enjoy a competitive victory last year, swatting aside Bulgaria 3-1 in Vilnius.

Nevertheless, Valdas Ivanauskas' side lost their other seven matches in World Cup qualification, thereby finishing rock bottom.

In all, they've only beaten Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Albania and Malta since last facing San Marino back in September 2015.

Despite their own very poor record, Lithuania should ease to victory at Stadio Olimpico di Serravalle.

Over 2.5 goals is 8/15. 

Uganda vs Tajikistan

Can Uganda claim a morale-boosting win?

Despite appearing at the previous two editions, the Cranes missed out on a place at AFCON 2021, eliminated by Malawi in qualifying.

Then, Micho Sredojević's side bowed out of World Cup qualifying in the second round, finishing below Mali in Group E.

Tajikistan meanwhile were eliminated in the second round over in Asian World Cup qualifying, ending up a distant second to run-away leaders Japan.

So, in June, they'll face Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan and Singapore, looking to qualify for a first-ever AFC Asia Cup.

Will there be a winner in Namangan?

Under 2.5 goals is 8/13. Uganda to win is 1/1.

- 101 Great Goals may earn commission from links on this page. Our content is always original. Note that all of our reviewers are compensated for contributing content to 101 Great Goals. Learn more.