Belgium vs France: Preview, Predictions and Lineups

Brussels hosts the Flemish derby on Monday night as France take on Belgium in the Nations League.

These two teams are chasing Italy at the top of Group A2, with Belgium drawing against the Azzurri on Thursday night after Luciano Spalletti’s side were reduced to ten men.

The Red Devils have picked up four points from their opening three group games and could do so with a rare win over France on Monday for a chance to take first place and advance to next year’s finals.

Les Bleus overcame a dismal encounter with their next opponents in the last 16 at Euro 2024, and got past Domenico Tedesco’s side at the start of their current Nations League campaign. They have won their previous four games against Belgium, the last defeat coming to their neighbors in 2015.

The 2018 World Cup winners go into Monday’s game having thrashed Israel 4-1 on Thursday night.

here it is 90 minutes preview of the League of Nations crash in Brussels

Head-to-head record in Belgium v ​​France (last five games)

Current form (all competitions)

There are several notable absentees from Domenico Tedesco’s side, including Kevin De Bruyne, who is nursing a pelvic injury sustained in Manchester City’s stalemate with Inter last month.

Romelu Lukaku has also not been called up despite his impressive start to the 2024/25 campaign, while the injured Thibaut Courtois remains unavailable for the squad.

Matz Sels has been withdrawn from the squad with knock, so Koen Casteels is expected to start on Monday night and Tedesco should retain the back three we saw against Italy on Thursday.

Expected line-up of Belgium against France (3-4-3): Castles; Debast, Faes, Theatre; Castagne, Tielemans, Mangala, De Cuyper; Trossard, Openda, Doku.

Antoine Griezmann had been a regular under Didier Deschamps, but the Atletico Madrid star announced his retirement from the international scene ahead of the France games in October.

The visitors are also without Kylian Mbappe, who was not called up to the squad despite making a quick recovery from a minor injury before the break. Randal Kolo Muani could lead the line for France on Monday, with Michael Olise and Bradley Barcola joining him in the front line.

There could be a start for Matteo Guendouzi in the middle of the park alongside Madrid duo Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga.

France predicted line-up against Belgium (4-3-3): cousins; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, Hernandez; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guendouzi; Olise, Kolo Muani, Barcola.

Belgium are moving away from their golden generation but the absence of their stars will hamper them on Monday night, even if France are without Griezmann and Mbappé.

The Red Devils were comfortably second best in Italy on Thursday before the hosts were reduced to ten, and Tedesco has yet to find an optimal formula with this set of players.

We shouldn’t expect thrills and spills with Deschamps around, but the visitors should go down to three points.

Prediction: Belgium 0-2 France

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