Yahoo Sports Belgium vs France – Match preview and team news
Belgium and France meet in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night, as the neighbours battle to reach the competition’s finals.
The hosts are third in the group, with France sat second after recovering from defeat on matchday one to earn back-to-back wins. Both sides are in need of a positive result to keep pace with Italy at the summit.
Here is everything you need to know about Belgium vs France.
Belgium vs France – Match preview and team news
Form
Belgium: DLWLD
Belgium have four points from three Nations League games after recovering from two goals down to draw with 10-man Italy last time out.
Domenico Tedesco’s side are without some influential figures this month with Kevin De Bruyne and record scorer Romelu Lukaku not involved in the current campaign. Just three players in the squad have 30+ caps as the Red Devils look to move on from their ‘Golden Generation’ group.
1️⃣0️⃣ goals for the Red Devils. 🇧🇪👊 pic.twitter.com/U4RRmZe6B3
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 13, 2024
Opportunity knocks for Lois Openda in Lukaku’s absence. The forward has four goals in six Bundesliga games this season, having netted 28 in all competitions for RB Leipzig last season. French fans will know the player well, after Openda fired Lens to Champions League qualification before his move to Germany.
Belgium have struggled in this fixture in recent years, losing their last four encounters with France.
France: DLLWW
France have recovered from the setback of losing to Italy on matchday one to record back-to-back wins and climb to second.
A comfortable performance saw Les Bleus win 4-1 in Israel in their first fixture of the break, in a clash that saw Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku on target. There was also a second international goal from Bradley Barcola, who has started the season in fine form for Paris Saint-Germain with six goals in seven Ligue 1 games.
Barcola will be expected to be handed another chance in a forward line without Kylian Mbappe, who is out injured. Marcus Thuram, Christopher Nkunku and Randal Kolo Muani are competing for a place at centre-forward.
Le 1er but de Nkunku en Bleu ! 🔥#FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/cBPXMKmmep
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) October 12, 2024
France have dominated this fixture winning each of the last four games and have not lost a competitive meeting with Belgium since the 1981 World Cup. That run includes eliminating Belgium from Euro 2024 in the summer at the Round of 16 stage.
Last Meeting
France 2-0 Belgium, UEFA Nations League, September 9th 2024
France eased to three points in the reverse fixture as goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele saw off Belgium in Lyon.
Kylian Mbappe was named on the bench for Les Bleus but France had enough firepower in the captain’s absence, with Kolo Muani taking his chance to impress with the opening goal. Dembele doubled the lead with a sweet strike for the French, who maintained their superiority over their European neighbours.
Predicted Lineups
Belgium: Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Mangala; Trossard, Openda, Doku.
France: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guendouzi; Olise, Nkunku, Barcola.
Who is the referee?
Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina).
What channel is Belgium vs France on?
The game will be broadcast for free on ViaPlay International’s YouTube channel.
What time is kick-off?
19:45 BST.
Odds
Belgium – 15/8
Draw – 23/10
France – 29/20
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