UEFA Nations League - Belgium VS France Prediction
UEFA Nations League - Belgium VS France
Match Time: 15-10-2024 02:45 Tuesday (GMT+8)
Football Livescore | Match Prediction & Tips
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Belgium
Belgium will likely be without key players Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, both of whom continue to recover from injuries and are not expected to feature in this match. Additionally, goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois remains unavailable due to a long-term knee injury, with Koen Casteels continuing to deputise in goal as Matz Sels is also unavailable. Domenico Tedesco will also be missing Amadou Onana, who picked up a minor knock in training and is unlikely to be risked against France.
In terms of formation, Belgium are expected to line up in a 5-2-3 system, focusing on defensive solidity and pace in the attacking transitions. Koen Casteels will retain his place between, with a five-man defence comprising Timothy Castagne and Maxim De Cuyper operating as wing-backs, while Zeno Debast, Wout Faes, and Arthur Theate form the central defensive trio. The formation can pivot to a 3-4-2-1 when in attack.
In midfield, Youri Tielemans and Orel Mangala will provide balance, with Tielemans acting as the creative outlet and Mangala tasked with breaking up France’s attacks. Up front, Belgium will rely on the attacking trio of Leandro Trossard, Lois Openda, and Jeremy Doku. Trossard and Doku will operate as wide forwards, using their pace and trickery to stretch the French defence, while Openda will lead the line as the central striker.
France
France will be missing several key players for this match against Belgium. Kylian Mbappe has pulled out of the squad after being rushed back too soon from injury by his club, while Antoine Griezmann has recently announced his international retirement, citing that he does not want to be involved unless he is a regular starter.
Additionally, N’Golo Kante was not called up after missing his latest club game, and Adrien Rabiot has also been left out due to a lack of playing time at Marseille. These absences will force Didier Deschamps to make some key changes to his starting lineup, potentially giving chances to younger players like Bradley Barcola and Matteo Guendouzi.
France are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation. Mike Maignan will start in goal, while the back four will likely feature Jules Kounde at right-back, Ibrahima Konate and William Saliba in central defence, and Theo Hernandez at left-back.
As for the midfield unit, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, and Matteo Guendouzi will form a trio, with Guendouzi possibly coming in after his impactful performance off the bench against Israel.
In attack, Michael Olise is expected to start on the right wing, while Bradley Barcola may be deployed on the left after scoring in the previous game. Randal Kolo Muani will likely lead the line as the central striker, tasked with spearheading France’s offence against Belgium’s defence.
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
Belgium vs France Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
*Belgium have a slight edge over France on the international stage and have won 30 out of the 77 matches played between the two teams, as opposed to France's 28 victories.
*France have won each of their last four matches against Belgium in all competitions, with their previous defeat against the Red Devils coming by a 4-3 scoreline in a friendly encounter in 2015.
*The last four matches between France and Belgium in all competitions have witnessed three clean sheets, with all three being kept by Les Bleus.
*France have won each of their last two matches in all competitions - they had suffered two defeats on the trot on the international stage preceding this run.
*Belgium are winless in their last two matches in the UEFA Nations League
Prediction: 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.
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