France will look to underline their credentials as Euro 2024 favorites when they take on Canada in an international friendly at Stade Bordeaux-Atlantique on Sunday.
Les Bleus have been the best-performing European team on the world stage in recent times, reaching the World Cup final in 2022 having lifted the trophy four years earlier.
They did underperform at Euro 2020, where they won just one of their four games, with three draws, and were dumped out on penalties by Switzerland.
But this France side is a different beast. They continue to grow under Didier Deschamps and have their top players in form at the right time. They eased to a 3-0 victory over Luxembourg last time out as their Euro 2024 preparations continue to ramp up.
As for Canada, they are being put through their final paces by new coach Jesse Marsch before they do battle with the best the Americas have to offer at Copa America 2024.
In their first warm-up friendly, the class of the seventh-ranked Netherlands proved too hot to handle in a four-goal second half battering, with three of the goals coming in a 13-minute span, as Marsch’s debut as Canadian men’s soccer head coach ended badly.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch it across the world, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
MORE: France Euro 2024 squad
This international friendly match takes place at Stade Bordeaux-Atlantique in Bordeaux, France and kicks off on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 9:15 p.m. local time (CEST).
Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories:
Date | Kickoff time | |
USA | Sun, Jun. 9 | 3:15 p.m. ET |
Canada | Sun, Jun. 9 | 3:15 p.m. ET |
UK | Sun, Jun. 9 | 8:15 p.m. BST |
Australia | Mon, Jun. 10 | 5:15 a.m. AEST |
India | Mon, Jun. 10 | 12:45 a.m. IST |
MORE: Canada Copa America 2024 squad
Here’s how to watch this international friendly match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
Region | TV | Streaming |
USA | Fox Soccer Plus | ViX |
Canada | — |
fuboTV Canada, OneSoccer |
UK | — | — |
Australia | — | Optus Sport |
India | — | — |
USA: This game is available to watch live on Fox Soccer Plus. Spanish-language service ViX will provide the online streaming option for the game in the States.
Canada: This international friendly game will be available to live stream on fuboTV in Canada and OneSoccer.
UK: The game will not be available to watch or stream live for fans in the UK.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream this match live and on-demand on Optus Sport.
India: France vs. Canada is not currently available to watch or stream.
If France vs. Canada is not available to watch live in your location or if you’re traveling abroad, you can use a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs offer a secure and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical restrictions to access your favorite streaming services from any device anywhere in the world.
WATCH FROM ANYWHERE: Sign up for NordVPN (30-day moneyback guarantee)
Newly recruited Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe took center stage for France against Luxembourg, with two assists and a well-taken goal to put the icing on the cake of a fine individual display.
While there were few surprises in Deschamps’ Euro 2024 squad selection, one of them was the recall of 2018 World Cup-winning midfielder N’Golo Kante; the 33-year-old returns to Les Bleus duty after an injury-free season with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia. He didn’t look at his prime best against Luxembourg, though, and was replaced by Warren Zaire-Emery after the hour.
Tricky Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola made his debut last time out, and could be handed a start here. Meanwhile, veteran striker Olivier Giroud could come in to replace Marcus Thuram upfront.
France predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Maignan (GK) — Kounde, Pavard, Upamecano, T. Hernandez — Zaire-Emery, Rabiot — Barcola, Griezmann, Mbappe — Giroud.
France subs (9): TBC
Canada boss Jesse Marsch’s high energy and intensity principles were evident early on in the heavy defeat to Netherlands last time out and it’s hard to see him changing his starting lineup much for this game.
Marsch deployed a classic 4-2-2-2 Red Bull shape with Tajon Buchanan and Liam Millar coming inside from their typical positions on the wing and serving in double No. 10 roles, with Jonathan David serving as hybrid striker-cum-playmaker.
The former Leeds boss started a new center-back duo of Moise Bombito and Derek Cornelius. Alphonso Davies, who wore the armband for the first time against the Dutch, started at left-back, a position he has barely played for Canada since the World Cup.
Dayne St. Clair usurped the expected starting goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau and could keep his place in between the sticks here.
Canada predicted XI (4-4-2/4-2-2-2, right to left): St. Clair (GK) — Johnstone, Bombito, Cornelius, A. Davies— Buchanan, Kone, Eustaquio, Millar — Larin, David.
Canada subs (9): TBC
MORE: France Euro 2024 games and path to the final
After being hammered 4-0 by the Netherlands, it’s out of the frying pan into the fire on Sunday for the 49th-ranked Canada as they face world No. 2 France in another high-profile friendly.
Jesse Marsch’s men are still a way off giving the big boys like France a good run for their money. Deschamps may wish to tinker with his selection slightly, but whichever Les Bleus 11 starts the game, it should make little difference to an emphatic scoreline.
Prediction: France 4-1 Canada
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