France

vs

Iraq

Preview

France

• France have won four of their last five matches in all competitions.
• Les Bleus sit in second in the group with three points from one game, after their 3-1 thrashing of Senegal in the group stage opener.

Iraq

• Iraq have failed to pick up any points in FIFA World Cup Group I after a 4-1 defeat to Norway in their opener.
• Iraq have been on a two-game losing streak in all competitions, being beaten 4-1 by Norway in their World Cup opener and losing to Venezuela on Thursday.

Key Players

• Didier Deschamps has been making waves with some tactical tweaks to his 4-2-3-1 system in this tournament, switching fluidly to a 4-3-3 system to maximise the threat of his wingers and using the brilliant creativity of Adrien Rabiot to unlock the opposition in midfield, where he has picked up one assist.
• Ayman Hussein has hit Iraq's only World Cup goal so far.
• Amir Al-Ammari has been a key playmaker and picked up an assist in their group opener.
• Graham Arnold has impressed with his disciplined, direct approach, setting Iraq up in a compact 4-4-2 shape and making them dangerous on the counter.

Prediction

• France will face Group I minnows Iraq in what should be a comfortable, if somewhat tricky, assignment at Philadelphia Stadium on Monday.
• So while France should win, there is every chance that Iraq can nick a goal on the counter-attack.
• The French have been prone to turnovers in midfield when they have been caught playing through the thirds and Arnold will be sure to teach his team to lie in wait for those opportunities.