Albania vs England

Attention turns to Baku as Azerbaijan prepare to welcome France on Sunday 16 November 2025 at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, where the match is set to begin at 21:00 local time. It is the final qualifying outing for both sides, with France already assured of their World Cup place while Azerbaijan aim to finish their campaign on a strong note in front of their supporters.

Squad news before kickoff highlights significant challenges. France travel without Kylian Mbappé, who is unavailable due to inflammation in his right ankle. They are also missing Manu Koné through suspension after his previous booking, and Eduardo Camavinga remains sidelined as he continues his recovery from a muscle issue. Despite these absences, France have more than twenty outfield players available for selection. Azerbaijan, meanwhile, face their own complications, particularly on the left side of their defence, where injuries have forced coach Aykhan Abbasov to reconsider his usual options.

From a tactical perspective, Didier Deschamps has spoken about combining experience with attacking pace, insisting that France cannot afford to treat this as a relaxed outing even though qualification is secure. He intends to rely on quick transitions and sustained pressure to unsettle the home side. Abbasov, on the other hand, has stated he does not want his team to sit deep throughout the match; he expects his players to compete bravely despite the gap in quality and intends to make adjustments to cover the defensive injuries that have limited his choices.

Pre-match media coverage in France has focused on how Deschamps will balance rotation with the desire to finish the campaign convincingly. Commentators have noted that even without their star attackers, France should have enough depth to create danger. In Azerbaijan, the tone is far more emotional, with local outlets encouraging the young squad to embrace the occasion and use the match as a measure of progress against elite opposition.

Analysts in television studios have largely predicted a France-dominated contest. Many point to the visitors’ strength across midfield and defence as the decisive factor, and they believe the absence of Mbappé will not drastically alter the balance of the game. Others, however, note that Baku can be an intense venue and warn France not to underestimate a home team that has shown resilience even when outmatched.