MX23RW : Tuesday, November 12 18:29:34| >> :120:5836:5836:
[monks data]
Belgium national football team
Nations League | League A
Oct 14, 2024 at 7.45pm UK
Stade Roi Baudouin
France national football team

Belgium
1 - 2
France

Openda (45+3')
Mangala (29'), Faes (53'), De Ketelaere (56')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Kolo (35' pen., 62')
Digne (7'), Saliba (22'), Tchouameni (24'), Konate (45'), Maignan (79')
Tchouameni (76')

Preview: Belgium vs. France - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Monday's Nations League clash between Belgium and France, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Neighbours Belgium and France meet for the second time in the space of a month on matchday four in the UEFA Nations League on Monday night.

France have recovered from an opening day defeat by winning their last two, while Belgium have slipped from first to third since their win over Israel on matchday one.


Match preview

Belgium's Leandro Trossard celebrates scoring against Italy on October 10, 2024© Imago

A real Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from Belgium saw them take a point from the Stadio Olimpico against Italy on Thursday night, and they will have been massively disappointed not to come away with a win.

Domenico Tedesco's men were utterly dominated in the opening 30 minutes, going 2-0 down and at threat of conceding more, but Lorenzo Pellegrini's rash challenge saw him dismissed, and changed the entire shape of the game.

Belgium pulled one back instantly thanks to Maxim De Cuyper, Leandro Trossard then equalised on the hour mark, and the Red Devils claimed they should have a penalty and a red card to Alessandro Bastoni, after he chopped Lois Openda down in the area just moments later.

Italy kept 10 on the field, though, and would keep Belgium at bay for the remaining half-hour, but the draw does leave Tedesco's men in a decent position after three games, even if it could have been better.

Everyone has beaten Israel so far, and Belgium still have the two heavyweights to play at home, so they will feel as though they have the ascendancy, despite currently sitting outside of the top two.

These two neighbours are becoming very accustomed to meeting each other, as they faced off in France last month, and in Germany over the summer.

France's Adrien Rabiot, Jules Kounde and Randal Kolo Muani celebrate on July 9, 2024© Imago

France won 2-0 in the reverse just over four weeks ago, and Les Bleus were successful too at the Euros, in a very forgettable 1-0 last-16 success.

Didier Deschamps has always had one over Belgium when it comes to competitive meetings, as his France side also beat Belgium 3-2 in the Nations League semi-finals in 2021 despite going 2-0 down, and they also got the better of the Red Devils in the 2018 World Cup semis.

If that was not enough to make the French feel confident heading into this short away trip, the fact they won 4-1 away to Israel in a completely dominant performance on Thursday should.

In neutral Hungary, France were in complete control for 90 minutes, as Israel's equaliser came with their only shot of the game, and after re-taking the lead four minutes later, the two late goals put some much-deserved gloss on the scoreline.

Deschamps needed a response from his team after the 3-1 home defeat to Italy on matchday one, and that is what he has got, with two wins from two, and another here should almost guarantee a top-two berth considering they still have to face the group's whipping boys Israel at home.

Belgium Nations League form:


Belgium form (all competitions):


France Nations League form:


France form (all competitions):



Team News

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne pictured on September 9, 2024© Imago

Romelu Lukaku was not called up yet again despite showing promising form at Napoli, with the striker claiming he had to stay at Naples to continue to build his fitness after missing much of preseason.

The ongoing rift between manager Tedesco and Thibaut Courtois means the Real Madrid keeper would have not been called up, but he is out with an injury at present anyway, while Matz Sels has also pulled out late with a knock.

Kevin De Bruyne is the other notable absentee, meaning Youri Tielemans is the only member of the 2018 World Cup squad still in the side at the moment.

It appeared as though Tedesco was experimenting with a three-at-the-back system in the first half against Italy before the red card, and even though they struggled, the lack of midfield options available could see him start with that again.

France are without Kylian Mbappe after he was perhaps rushed back too soon by his club following a recent setback, and he has therefore pulled out of this squad.

After being dropped following their 3-1 defeat to Italy, Antoine Griezmann then announced his international retirement late last month, stating he does not want to be part of the setup if he is not a regular starter, despite being one of Deschamps's favourites.

N'Golo Kante was not called up after missing his club side's most recent fixture in Saudi Arabia, while Adrien Rabiot's lack of game time at Marseille has also cost him his place.

After scoring off the bench on Thursday, both Bradley Barcola and Matteo Guendouzi could come into the side, especially if Deschamps decides to revert to three in midfield, after picking a very attacking lineup against Israel.


Belgium possible starting lineup:
Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Mangala; Trossard, Openda, Doku

France possible starting lineup:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, T. Hernandez; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guendouzi; Olise, Kolo Muani, Barcola


SM words green background

We say: Belgium 1-2 France

In more testing environments, France have not been great recently, with just six wins in 90 minutes across their last 14 matches, but they should just have enough to beat a weakened Belgium side here.

When playing 11 versus 11 against Italy, Belgium could not compete, and the 2-0 defeat in Lyon last month suggests they could struggle again here, despite home advantage.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




ID:555232:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect13444:

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Game History

How you voted: Belgium vs France

Belgium
17.2%
Draw
19.7%
France
63.1%
274
Collect / Create New Data
Share this article now:
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe on September 24, 2024
Read Next:
Real Madrid's loss, Chelsea's gain: France Nations League squad revealed
>
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free match previews newsletter! Updates are sent twice a week.
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League A1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Portugal Portugal431010
2 Croatia Croatia42117
3 Poland Poland41124
4 Scotland flag Scotland40131

League A2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Italy Italy431010
2 France France43019
3 Belgium Belgium41124
4 Israel Israel40040

League A3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany431010
2 Netherlands Netherlands41215
3 Hungary Hungary41215
4 Bosnia Bosnia H'vina40131

League A4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Spain Spain431010
2 Denmark Denmark42117
3 Serbia Serbia41124
4 Switzerland Switzerland40131

League B1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic42117
2 Georgia Georgia42026
3 Albania national flag Albania42026
4 Ukraine Ukraine41124

League B2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Greece Greece440012
2 England flag England43019
3 Ireland Rep. Ireland41033
4 Finland Finland40040

League B3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Norway Norway42117
2 Austria Austria42117
3 Slovenia Slovenia42117
4 Kazakhstan Kazakhstan40131

League B4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Turkey Turkey431010
2 Wales flag Wales42208
3 Iceland Iceland41124
4 Montenegro Montenegro40040

League C1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Sweden Sweden431010
2 Slovakia Slovakia431010
3 Estonia Estonia41033
4 Azerbaijan Azerbaijan40040

League C2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Romania Romania440012
2 Kosovo flag Kosovo43019
3 Cyprus Cyprus41033
4 Lithuania Lithuania40040

League C3

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Northern Ireland flag N. Ireland42117
2 Belarus Belarus41306
3 Bulgaria Bulgaria41215
4 Luxembourg flag Luxembourg40222

League C4

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Macedonia N. Macedonia431010
2 Armenia Armenia41124
3 Latvia Latvia41124
4 Faroe Islands Faroe Islands40313

League D1

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Gibraltar flag Gibraltar31205
2 San Marino flag San Marino21013
3 Liechtenstein flag Liechtenstein30212

League D2

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Republic of Moldova Moldova32016
2 Malta flag Malta32016
3 Andorra flag Andorra20020


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!