Belgium and France face off on Monday in a crucial UEFA Nations League match, marking their second meeting in just over a month. France enters the game in strong form, having recovered from a slow start in the group. After losing to Italy on matchday one, they bounced back with two consecutive wins, including a dominant 4-1 victory over Israel. That win not only showcased France’s attacking power but also positioned them well to secure a top-two finish in the group, especially with Israel yet to be played again on home soil.
Belgium, on the other hand, has experienced a more inconsistent campaign. After an opening win against Israel, they have since slipped from the top of the group to third place. Their most recent match, a 2-2 draw against Italy, was a tale of two halves. Belgium struggled early, going down 2-0 before Italy’s Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off, allowing them to fight back with goals from Maxim De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard. Despite their second-half dominance, Belgium failed to secure a win, leaving them needing a strong performance against France to stay in contention for qualification.
Both teams are dealing with key absences ahead of the match. Belgium is without star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, while Thibaut Courtois is unavailable due to injury and a continued rift with manager Domenico Tedesco. These gaps leave Belgium somewhat weakened, with Youri Tielemans the most experienced player left from their 2018 World Cup squad.
France, meanwhile, is missing Kylian Mbappé, who pulled out of the squad due to fitness concerns after a recent injury setback. Antoine Griezmann also made headlines by announcing his international retirement following his omission from the starting lineup against Italy. N’Golo Kanté and Adrien Rabiot are also unavailable, leaving Deschamps to experiment with younger talent like Bradley Barcola and Matteo Guendouzi, both of whom could start after impressing against Israel.
Despite their absences, France remains the favorite. Their 2-0 win over Belgium last month and a strong overall record in recent meetings give them the edge, though Belgium’s home advantage could make it a closely contested affair.
