French Guiana v Belize prediction

What to expect

French Guiana host Belize in a CONCACAF Nations League clash on 7 October. The hosts sit second in the four-team group with six points and a +2 goal difference, three points clear of Belize who are third with three points and a –2 goal difference. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines sit above French Guiana, also three points ahead, while Sint Maarten trail Belize. Both sides have played three games already, so a win for either club will move them closer to the top spot and push the other further from safety.

French Guiana come into this match on the back of two straight victories. Their most recent game was a 2-0 win away at Belize, followed by a 1-0 home win over Sint Maarten. Before that they lost 2-1 away to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In those three fixtures they have scored four goals and let in two, keeping two clean sheets. Only one of those games produced three or more goals, and both sides scored in just one of the matches. The side has had just three days’ rest since the win in Belize, so they will be on a short turnaround.

Belize, on the other hand, arrive after two defeats. They fell 2-0 at home to French Guiana, then lost 1-0 at home to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, before snapping a 1-0 away win over Sint Maarten. Over these three games they have scored just one goal while conceding three, keeping a single clean sheet and failing to find the net in two matches. No game in this run has seen three or more goals, and neither side has ever both scored. Like the hosts, Belize also played only three days ago, so fatigue could be a factor.

The two teams have already met this campaign, with French Guiana winning 2-0 away in the most recent encounter. That result suggests a game that could stay tight, but the pattern of scores points to a low-scoring affair. French Guiana have shown they can score twice and keep a clean sheet, while Belize have struggled to get on the scoresheet at all. Expect a match with few chances and a strong chance that French Guiana will find the net at least once.

We back French Guiana on a Draw No Bet. The price of 1.53 is longer than our own reading of the game, which gives French Guiana a clear edge – we expect about two goals for them and just under one for Belize. The odds mean a win for French Guiana pays well, and a draw returns the stake, so only a loss hurts us. The pick looks solid because French Guiana have scored in eight out of ten chances and kept two clean sheets recently, while Belize have struggled to score and have conceded in every game. The only way this could go wrong is if Belize manage to break their scoring drought and keep a clean sheet, turning the match into a 0-0 draw. In that case our stake would be returned, but a Belize win would be the real upset.

Recent meetings