“We want to just win this time,” Fulham right-back Timothy Castagne stated ahead of Belgium’s upcoming UEFA Nations League fixture against France, addressing the team’s long winless streak against Les Bleus stretching back to 2015.
With Thomas Meunier left out of the squad, Castagne remains the undisputed first-choice right-back for the Red Devils, while France prepares for the match without injured Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé.
Castagne Prepares for France Without Mbappé
France enters the fixture boasting a deep talent pool capable of sustaining deep runs in major tournaments, from the European Championship and World Cup to the Nations League. However, Les Bleus must play this international window without their captain and star attacker Kylian Mbappé. The Real Madrid forward is sidelined for the entire period due to a hyperextension of the joint capsule at the back of his left knee.
While Mbappé’s absence alters the defensive challenge, Castagne warned that the French squad retains immense attacking threat through alternatives like Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué. “Of course that changes a bit, but the players behind him, like Barcola and Doué, are also serious. They have so many qualities,” Castagne said.
Red Devils Aim to End Nine-Year Winless Run
Belgium has not beaten France in a competitive or friendly fixture since 2015, suffering consecutive defeats since that exhibition victory. Castagne rejected the framing of the upcoming match as a revenge fixture, emphasizing instead the team’s broader competitive goals under a new tactical system and a new head coach.
“We want to just win this time. Last time, in the Nations League, we should have done better. Now we have started well with the new system and the new coach,” Castagne said.
Young Talents Impress in the National Setup
Reflecting on Belgium’s recent outings, Castagne highlighted the emergence of young prospects following the match against Italy. Winger Mika Godts caught the eye with a performance that reinforced his current form in the Eredivisie. “Mika has quality and he has shown nice things in the Eredivisie. It must have been a disappointment for him that he couldn’t go to the World Cup,” Castagne noted.
In the same Italian fixture, Nathan Ngoy earned a starting spot in central defense ahead of Arthur Theate and Zeno Debast. Castagne praised the defender’s physical traits, calling Ngoy a top player who combines strength and speed.
Club Brugge Winger Virgili Shines for Spain U21
While senior internationals prepare for high-profile clashes, club performances are translating onto the international stage across European youth ranks. Virgili directly contributed to four goals in the match, scoring twice and providing two assists to extend his strong club form into the international break.
