Colombia v France (International Friendly): odds and bets 29.03.2026

This friendly (Sunday 29 March 2026, in Landover, Maryland) is the sort of match I like because it pits two very ‘World Cup-style’ teams against each other: Colombia with their pace, one-on-ones and transitions, and France with a cutting edge that doesn’t need many chances to cause damage.

The key point here, for me, is the context: France arrive in very strong form based on recent official results (UEFA qualifiers), whilst Colombia have been racking up high-scoring results and producing plenty of attacking play in their latest fixtures (across CONMEBOL qualifiers and friendlies). That usually pushes the match towards two scenarios: either France control it through quality and experience, or it opens up and becomes a back-and-forth affair where the penalty areas take centre stage.

Colombia

Under Néstor Lorenzo, Colombia are currently competing well and attacking with numbers. Looking at their most recent results, I see a team capable of holding their own against major opponents (for example, the 1-1 draw in Argentina) and, at the same time, of punishing opponents severely when the game opens up (that 6-3 win in Venezuela or the 4-0 victory over Mexico didn’t come out of nowhere: they were matches where Colombia found spaces and went for the kill).

In ‘friendly mode’ they also feel comfortable: they’re coming off a 3-0 win over Australia, a 2-1 win over New Zealand and a 0-0 draw with Canada. That mix of clean sheets and days of clinical finishing makes me think the ceiling is high, but the floor is solid too if they organise their defence well.

Where do I see the key? In the fact that Colombia has wingers and attacking midfielders capable of breaking quickly (and in this type of match, if France takes risks with high full-backs, the space to run into appears). And on the downside: if they lose battles in the middle or fail to maintain their marking after losing possession, France will kill you with two swift strikes. As for absentees, I wouldn’t count on Roger Martínez as part of the plan due to injury.

France

France arrive, in my view, ‘in competitive form’: in their recent official matches they’ve racked up some very convincing scorelines, such as a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan, a 4-0 win over Ukraine, a 3-0 win over Azerbaijan and a 2-0 away win over Ukraine. Even when they don’t win, they don’t fall apart easily (the 2-2 draw in Iceland is an example of a tricky match that didn’t completely slip away from them).

The key difference is obvious: depth and talent up front. In friendlies, and even more so on neutral ground or in the USA, France tends to alternate periods of control with very direct surges forward. And if Colombia presses high up the pitch, that’s where France feels most dangerous: winning the ball, playing the first pass and getting players into the box.

In terms of the squad, France has far more options in every position. Furthermore, they arrive with some absences in midfield (such as Manu Koné) and there are specific doubts in defence depending on the final squad, which opens the door for Colombia to have their moments and create chances if they find space behind the full-backs.