Without Kylian Mbappé, the France team can take a big step towards qualifying for the Nations League this Monday evening against Belgium in Brussels.
After a lackluster victory in Budapest against Israel (4-1), the French team challenges Belgium this Monday evening (8:45 p.m.) in Brussels for its second match of this November gathering in Brussels. While controversies have multiplied around the Blues in recent weeks, Didier Deschamps’ players nevertheless have the opportunity to take a big step towards the quarter-finals of the competition if they succeed this Monday evening in the Belgian capital. A victory would in fact give the Blues five points ahead of the Belgians two days before the end of the group stage. As a reminder, the first two teams in each League A group will compete in the quarter-finals, which will be played in the form of two-way matches. The four winners of the quarter-finals will finally compete in the last four at least in June 2025.
Mbappé, the absentee everyone is talking about
Didier Deschamps will once again have to put together a team this Monday evening against the Red Devils without his main asset and captain, Kylian Mbappé. Absent from this gathering, although he had played with Real Madrid after the announcement of his withdrawal from the Blues, Mbappé was seen in Sweden at the end of last week, which did not fail to cause controversy. Without this disturbing the French players. “Frankly, I think we’re doing it a little too much. Everyone has the right to think what they want, but every time it’s Kylian, it takes on disproportionate proportions, explained the new captain at a press conference. of the Blues, Aurélien Tchouaméni We spoke with him before the match, after the match, and where he followed him does not necessarily matter, in truth His love for the French team. It’s no longer to be dismantled. We can’t wait for it to come back.”
The Belgium – France lineups: a Dembélé-Thuram-Barcola trio in front?
For this match between Belgium and France, Didier Deschamps should make several changes compared to the victory against Israel on Thursday (4-1). Affected in the ankle, Marcus Thuram could start this evening in the axis of the attack with Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé on the sides. For his 4-2-3-1, Deschamps tested Mattéo Guendouzi higher than Aurélien Tchouaméni and Manu Koné in midfield. “There will be a few changes tomorrow, but I don’t think I will make eight,” explained the Blues coach.
France’s likely starting XI: Maignan – Koundé, Konaté, Saliba, Digne – Ma. Koné, Tchouaméni (c) – O. Dembélé, Guendouzi, Barcola – M. Thuram.
Obliged, or almost, to win this Monday evening against the Blues, Belgium will have to do without its veterans Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, not to mention Thibaut Courtois. Under pressure, coach Domenico Tedesco should trust former RC Lens striker Loïs Openda up front, supported by Doku, Trossard and De Ketelaere in a 4-2-3-1 system.
Belgium’s likely starting XI: Casteels – Debast, Theate, Faes, De Cuyper – Mangala, Tielemans – De Ketelaere, Trossard, Doku – Openda.
Time, channel, how to see Belgium – France live
This match between Belgium and France will obviously be broadcast unencrypted on French television since it will be visible on TF1, a channel for which you do not need to subscribe. To follow this meeting on the Internet between the Red Devils and the Blues, from 8:45 p.m. this Monday, October 14, you must go, on the TF1 website. For this meeting, France is given the favorite by the various sports betting sites for this match on the 4th day of the League of Nations. The odds for a French victory range between 2.1 and 2.4 while that for a Belgian victory at home is between 2.5 and 3. The odds for a draw are around 3.3.