Didier Deschamps will be demanding – and very much needing – an improved performance from Les Bleus as they look to get up and running in the Nations League. Belgium pose another daunting test after a home defeat to Italy has set further alarm bells ringing.
France took the lead against the Azzurri inside 13 seconds at the weekend, but ended up going down 3-1 to lose at home to Italy for the first time in 70 years. The result followed a disappointing Euro 2024 and leaves the pressure firmly on the highly decorated head of Deschamps.
Belgium, meanwhile, beat Israel with ease last time out as captain Kevin De Bruyne scored twice. The Red Devils will sense an opportunity for revenge after a narrow last-16 defeat at Euro 2024. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Reporter at Stadium.
France vs Belgium latest updates
21:19 , Alex Young
71min: Maigan forced into a save for the first time in quite a while as De Ketelaere tries his luck on a tight angle.
21:18 , Alex Young
70min: De Ketelaere replaces Openda.
21:17 , Alex Young
69min: First sight of goal as Mbappe takes the ball on the turn into the area and fires at the far post, but he’s well wide.
21:16 , Alex Young
67min: Here comes Mbappe, replacing Kolo Muani.
21:15 , Alex Young
66min: Dembele is enjoying himself and has just sent Doku to the shops with a brilliant nutmeg.
21:12 , Alex Young
63min: A Mexican wave in the Lyon stadium as we wait for Kounde to get back to his feet.
21:09 , Alex Young
60min: Mangala replaces Tielemans, Bakayoko replaces Lukabakio.
21:08 , Alex Young
59min: Oof, close from Onana who beats Konate at a corner but his flicked header is a good five yards wide.
Big chance.
GOAL!
21:06 , Alex Young
57min: Oh my, that is stunning! Dembele – down that Belgium left again – cuts inside, feints once and then hits a screamer past Casteels.
21:04 , Alex Young
55min: Guendouzi is again the furthest man forward as he flings himself at a Dembele cross, but Faes has him under control.
21:03 , Alex Young
53min: Wave after wave from France, and so much is coming down Belgium’s left. Guendouzi is really enjoying surging forward.
21:00 , Alex Young
51min: Kone has a pop from distance, which flies a good 10 yards over.
20:58 , Alex Young
48min: A much better start to the second half for France than the first, meaning they’ve actually got their foot on the ball.
Second half!
20:54 , Alex Young
46min: After a long wait for France, we are back underway!
20:48
The players are back out, not long until we restart.
20:44 , Alex Young
Deschamps will be very pleased with that after last week’s loss to Italy, but still a long way to go.
France capitulated in the second half half the Azzurri, and Belgium have already shown plenty of threat tonight.
20:37 , Alex Young
Belgium started firmly on top but the hosts grew into the game and take a deserved lead into the break.
Half-time!
20:33 , Alex Young
49min: …and it is!
20:32 , Alex Young
48min: Corner comes in, it meets Kounde’s head but the defender gets underneath it and his header flies over.
That should be that for the first half…
20:31 , Alex Young
47min: Patient play from France on the edge of the Belgium area between Dembele and Kante ends with the latter’s deflected shot winning a corner.
20:30 , Alex Young
46min: Three minutes added on.
20:29 , Alex Young
43min: Belgium trying to push France as half-time approaches, but the hosts look confident.
20:26 , Alex Young
40min: Guendouzi fancies this. He takes the ball off De Bruyne on the edge of the area and makes a marauding run through midfield and onto the flight flank… but messes up his attempted pass into the area.
20:24 , Alex Young
39min: Upamecano takes the free kick, around 40 yards out, and it is worked inside to Kolo Muani who cannot quite get enough connection on his flicked finish inside the six-yard box.
20:22 , Alex Young
38min: Oof, Tielemans steps up and clearly trips Kone, who collapses to the pitch in pain. He’s getting medical attention.
20:20 , Alex Young
36min: Thuram looks to break the line but is stopped by the offside flag.
20:19 , Alex Young
33min: This Lyon crowd is amped. Can see another France goal before half-time.
GOAL!
20:16 , Alex Young
30min: It’s been coming!
Kolo Muani heads the ball on for Kante on the edge of the area, the midfielder slips in Dembele who forces Casteels into a super stop but Kolo Muani is there to thump home the rebound!
20:14 , Alex Young
29min: This game has completely changed!
France now brimming with confidence and cutting open Belgium, Thuram the latest to force Casteels into a smart save which Faes has to clear the rebound.
20:12 , Alex Young
26min: A real warning for Belgium, who have otherwise looked in control. France are not growing into the game.
20:09 , Alex Young
23min: Oh, Guendouzi!
Kounde with a whipped pass from the right which De Bruyne would have been happy with lands at the feet of Guendouzi in the penalty area, but the midfielder cannot get it under control and his wild half-volley is gobbled up by Casteels.
Best chance of the game so far.
20:06 , Alex Young
21min: Sloppy from Onana as Thuram is tripped from behind and gets the foul. It’s been a clumsy start from both teams on that front.
20:03 , Alex Young
18min: France chasing shadows at the moment but keeping their shape well.
Openda is eventually fed into the area but his snap-shot on the turn is easy pickings for Maigan.
20:00 , Alex Young
15min: A bit of a breather for both teams as Belgium try to calm everything down with some patient possession.
19:58 , Alex Young
13min: I’m not sure what has Openda so fired up but he’s taken a big tumble in the middle of the pitch claiming a push from Saliba. He then points to his ankle.
Absolutely nothing in it.
19:57 , Alex Young
12min: Huge, huge calls for a France penalty as De Bruyne brings down Kolo Muani… and I tell you what, that looked like a clear trip.
19:55 , Alex Young
10min: Kounde has been very busy early doors, just about keeping Openda quiet with the offside flag to help.
19:54 , Alex Young
8min: A bizarre coming together as the corner is lined up as Openda is furious about something. It’s not immediately clear what, but either way he gets a booking for his troubles.
De Bruyne eventually whips in the corner, which is cleared.
SAVE!
19:52 , Alex Young
6min: De Bruyne fizzes a free kick to the back post which Lukebakio meets at the back post but Maigan stands tall to concede the corner.
19:50 , Alex Young
5min: First sight of goal for France as Dembele picks up the ball on the left, cuts inside but cannot find Thuram in the centre.
19:49 , Alex Young
4min: Belgium have started with blistering speed and Kone cannot keep up. A truly dreadful late challenge on Onana earns him a yellow card.
19:48 , Alex Young
3min: Slight pause in play as a clumsy challenge from Kone sees Openda take a tumble on the edge of the area. Referee doesn’t give the free kick but the striker is writhing in agony so France boot the ball out.
19:47 , Alex Young
2min: Doku gets on the ball for the first time but Kounde stands him up well and mops up at the second attempt.
KICK-OFF!
19:45 , Alex Young
1min: Here we go! Belgium get us underway.
19:42 , Alex Young
A hearty rendition of both national anthems from players and fans. Not long now.
19:39 , Alex Young
Here come the teams.
19:37 , Alex Young
Kevin De Bruyne scored twice against Israel. More again today?
19:34 , Alex Young
The teams are back in the dressing room. Just 10 minutes until kick-off.
19:18 , Alex Young
This is the 77th meeting between the two nations, and Belgium – perhaps surprisingly? – have the edge with 30 wins to France’s 27.
Les Bleus are actually on a three-game win streak against the Red Devils, who have not beaten tonight’s opponents since 2015.
Defeat tonight for France will see them lose three games in a row for the first time since 2013.
Eight changes for France, one for Belgium
19:01 , Alex Young
So, plenty of changes for France as promised.
Only Maigan, Saliba and Kante keep their place, with the likes of Mbappe, Olise, Griezmann and Barcola are all on the bench.
In come the likes of Kounde, Dembele, Guendouzi, Kolo Muani and Thuram.
For Belgium, it’s just one change as Debast comes in for De Cuyper.
Team news in full
18:50 , Alex Young
France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Digne; Kante, Guendouzi, Kone; Dembele, Kolo Muani: Thuram
Subs: Areola, Samba, Clauss, Hernandez, Konate, Fofana, Barcola, Griezmann, Mbappe, Olise
Belgium XI: Casteels; Theate, Faes, Debast, Castagne; Tielemans, Onana; Lukébakio, De Bruyne, Doku; Openda
Subs: Kaminski, Sels, Bakayoko, Bornauw, De Ketelaere, Duranville, Mangala, Meunier, Saelemaekers, Vermeeren
France XI
18:43 , Alex Young
…and Les Bleus!
Belgium XI
18:36 , Alex Young
Here’s how the Red Devils line up!
Belgium ‘showed France too much respect’
18:33 , Alex Young
Belgium are still hurting after their Euro 2024 exit at the hands of France, feeling they showed them too much respect, coach Domenico Tedesco has said.
“At the European Championship, it was a close one against France. We could have won too,” Tedesco said.
“France were a bit better, they deserved to win, but we also had our chances. It would be a lie if I said that match is forgotten, it still hurts. I often think about the European Championship, but you also must look ahead.
“Looking back is not always the best solution. We have to be ambitious, it’s been a long time since we beat France in a competitive match with commitment. Let us perform well and then the rest will follow.”
He added: “The last match at the European Championship was different from the one now, it was a knockout match. We learned that we adjusted our own plans a bit too much then. You always have to analyse your opponent, but we adjusted excessively.”
Didier Deschamps sticking to his guns
18:21 , Alex Young
Didier Deschamps has confirmed he is sticking to his plan to make multiple changes and rotate the line-up for tonight’s game, despite an alarming home loss to Italy.
“The six Nations League matches must be used to introduce new players and distribute playing time,” he said.
“If we had a different schedule and were playing World Cup qualifiers, I would not have chosen this course, that’s for sure. But I chose it because I believe that we have to go through it. I’m not going to change course.”
He added: “I can’t be satisfied with the match against Italy, nor can the players. To[night] is another game, another context, a different team with the same obligation.
“The course I have taken is to give as much playing time to as many players as possible. Whatever the playing time, there is always pressure, you have to perform as well as possible.”
Score prediction
18:09 , Alex Young
Let’s hope this game brings decidedly more entertainment than the Euro 2024 last-16 tie between these two sides back in July.
Both France and Belgium flattered to deceive that day in Dusseldorf and indeed throughout the tournament as a whole, despite both having no shortage of firepower and Deschamps’ men eventually reaching the last four.
Belgium are something of a team in transition with their much-hyped ‘golden generation’ now over, but they still have plenty of star power including De Bruyne, Manchester City team-mate Jeremy Doku and Villa’s Amadou Onana.
A short trip to France will hold no fears for Tedesco’s side after they brushed aside Israel, though you get the sense that Les Bleus will be extremely motivated to get back to winning ways after suffering back-to-back competitive losses for the first time in nine years.
France to win, 2-1.
17:55 , Alex Young
There is no Romelu Lukaku in a more youthful-looking Belgium squad, while goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said last month that he would not play for his country again while Tedesco was still in charge following a previous bust-up.
Celtic’s record signing Arne Engels is suspended, while Club Brugge full-back Maxim De Cuyper has returned to his club due to a hamstring issue.
Captain Kevin De Bruyne should again start and, along with Manchester City team-mate Jeremy Doku, support lone striker Lois Openda up front.
France team news
17:45 , Alex Young
Paris Saint-Germain starlet Warren Zaire-Emery has withdrawn from the France squad ahead of Belgium’s visit, having suffered a calf injury after replacing N’Golo Kante late on during Friday’s loss to Italy.
Sevilla defender Loic Bade was drafted into the squad last week following Wesley Fofana’s return to Chelsea, but missed Friday’s game and is expected to remain out on Monday too.
Lucas Digne and Matteo Guendouzi were also late call-ups by Deschamps following the respective withdrawals of Real Madrid pair Ferland Mendy and Aurelien Tchouameni, while Michael Olise made his senior France debut from the off against Italy.
Where to watch France vs Belgium
17:39 , Alex Young
TV channel: This game will not be shown live on TV in the UK.
Live stream: However, fans can still watch the match live and for free online via the Viaplay International YouTube channel.
Welcome
17:30 , Alex Young
Good evening and welcome to the Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Nations League clash between France and Belgium.
It’s only round two yet we’re being served up another clash of European giants, and France will be desperate for improvement after going down 3-1 at home to Italy last week.
Belgium, meanwhile, easily dispatched Israel in Hungary and are out of revenge after losing to Les Bleus at the Euro 2024 last-16 stage.
Kick-off in Lyon is at 7.45pm UK time. Stick with us.
