France will conclude its current international window on Monday night at the Stade de France, hosting Belgium in a fourth-round UEFA Nations League match. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. local time, with the fixture marking the end of the first collection of matches under manager Zinédine Zidane.
Stakes in Group A1
The French side currently leads Group A1, having secured two victories and a draw from their first three matches. Belgium follows closely in second place, trailing the leaders by a single point. The Belgians enter the contest with momentum, having defeated Italy 2-0 and Turkey 3-0 in their other group fixtures. For France, Monday’s match serves as an opportunity to solidify their position at the top of the table after a 1-1 draw against Italy in Saint-Denis last Friday.
Previous Meeting in Brussels
France and Belgium last met on the second matchday of this campaign, where the French side secured a 1-0 victory in Belgium. The result was decided by a goal from Michael Olise. Despite making nine changes to the starting lineup, Zidane’s side displayed a high-intensity, attacking style of play that the manager noted was consistent with his tactical objectives. The upcoming match in Saint-Denis provides a chance for the team to return to that form following the draw against Italy.
Belgium Fails to Beat France Since 2015
Belgium has struggled against France in recent years, failing to record a victory in their last six encounters. This streak includes the 2018 World Cup round of 16, which France won 1-0. The last time the Belgian national team defeated France was on June 7, 2015, during a friendly match at the Stade de France. In that encounter, Belgium claimed a 4-1 victory behind a brace from Marouane Fellaini and goals from Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard, despite a late comeback attempt by France.
Personnel and Availability
Both teams will face significant roster challenges for the Monday night clash. France will be without Kylian Mbappé, who sustained an injury during the opening win against Turkey. Defender Dayot Upamecano is unavailable due to a suspension following his red card in the draw against Italy. Belgium will also be missing key contributors; Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans are both suspended for the match. Regarding the absence of De Bruyne, Zidane stated that while he would have preferred for the midfielder to be available for the sake of the competition, he expects a difficult match regardless of the lineup changes.
Zidane Plans Changes to Starting Lineup
Zidane has indicated that he intends to continue utilizing his squad depth, confirming that further changes to the starting 11 are expected. The manager said the team must make intelligent adjustments to remain competitive through the fourth match of the window. While the final lineup remains unconfirmed, reports suggest Guillaume Restes could replace Mike Maignan in goal, and Jules Koundé is expected to return to the right-back position. Midfield configurations remain under review, with Eduardo Camavinga potentially seeing a start in place of Adrien Rabiot as the coaching staff evaluates different tactical setups.
Players Under Scrutiny
Individual performances will be a focal point on Monday. Ousmane Dembélé is expected to be under pressure to provide an attacking spark after a disappointing outing against Italy. Other players, including Jérémy Jacquet, have seen increased responsibility during this window and will look to continue their development. Esteban Lepaul is expected to perform better than he did in the match in Brussels earlier this month.
The match will be broadcast on TF1, with live commentary available on the official match site.
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