France vs Belgium predictions: Les Bleus to land knockout blow in heavyweight clash
- Surprise draw for France against Poland saw them finish second in Group D
- Belgium also runners-up after goalless draw with Ukraine
- Recommended bet: France to win
There is a heavyweight clash in Dusseldorf on Monday, when France take on Belgium in an unexpected encounter.
France were expected to beat Poland to top their group, but could only draw 1-1, while Belgium were also frustrated in their 0-0 stalemate with Ukraine.
Team news
Kylian Mbappe returned to the starting line-up for France against Poland wearing a protective mask, but though he scored a penalty, the forward could be shifted to the left by coach Didier Deschamps.
The 37-year-old striker Olivier Giroud is tipped for a possible start, allowing Mbappe to play from the wing in a 4-3-3, with Antoine Griezmann likely to return to the starting lineup in midfield.
Belgium’s Thomas Meunier is back in training and could be a contender to replace Timothy Castagne in Domenico Tedesco’s team, with Dodi Lukebackio also available after serving a suspension.
The stats
France are second in the FIFA rankings and Belgium third, with only Argentina ahead of these two.
These teams last met in 2021, with France staging a comeback to win 3-2 in the Nations League semi-finals.
France have yet to concede a goal from normal play in this tournament, with Robert Lewandowski having converted a penalty against them for Poland.
Prediction
Though France have been disappointing at this tournament so far, it should be remembered that they remain unbeaten.
They might have only won one of their games, but that victory did come against an Austrian side that have been one of the best performers at Euro 2024.
So despite landing on the tougher side of the draw, Deschamps and his team will be feeling relaxed regarding their prospects.
This is a side that has reached the final of three of their last four major international tournaments and such experience brings confidence.
In contrast, this tournament represents the last-chance saloon, for the last few remnants of Belgium’s golden generation.
After suffering a shock loss to Slovakia in their opening fixture, they bounced back with a strong 2-0 win over Romania, only for them to slump again in a 0-0 draw with Ukraine.
Though neither side are playing at their best, both have made it to the knockout stages having only conceded a single goal.
That suggests a low scoring match and France should have the extra quality needed to win a close encounter in regular time.
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