France and Belgium will meet at Stade de France on Monday, October 5, in the return fixture between two teams beginning new chapters under different managers.
Zinedine Zidane won his first two Nations League matches with France, including a 1-0 success in Brussels. Mark van Bommel’s Belgium will hope to turn a competitive performance in that meeting into a better result.
Verdict: France to win
Best odds: 51/100 (provisional)
Bookmaker: 1xBet
France began the campaign with successive 1-0 victories over Turkey and Belgium. Those narrow wins have given Zidane a productive start while he learns more about the players available to him.
The first Belgium game was particularly useful in that respect. Zidane made nine changes to his starting lineup, handing opportunities to several newcomers before using his bench to change the match.
Michael Olise eventually scored the winner in the 88th minute. The late breakthrough showed the value of having attacking players who can produce something decisive even when a match is closely contested.
France also threatened before the substitutes arrived. Desire Doue hit the woodwork twice in Brussels, giving the visitors reason to feel they could have scored earlier.
Kylian Mbappe’s absence changes the attack, but France still has several ways to create chances. Olise can come inside from the right, Ousmane Dembele can move across the front line, and Rayan Cherki offers the passing needed to unlock a compact defense.
At home, France should be able to spend longer in Belgium’s half. The challenge will be moving the ball quickly enough to stop the visitors settling into a comfortable defensive shape.
There is also a need for patience. Belgium showed enough in the first meeting to make careless attacking play dangerous, particularly when space appeared for its wide players.
France hosts Italy before this rematch. Zidane’s selection against Belgium will therefore depend partly on the physical demands of Friday’s game and how he chooses to share minutes across the squad.
France Team News
Mbappe is unavailable for the remaining matches in this international window after suffering a knee injury against Turkey.
Ibrahima Konate also withdrew through injury, with Leny Yoro called up as his replacement.
Mike Maignan started in Brussels and provides an experienced option in goal. France’s current squad also includes Jules Kounde and Dayot Upamecano, who could return to the defense, while Yoro, Maxence Lacroix and Jeremy Jacquet offer further choices.
Eduardo Camavinga, Manu Kone and Adrien Rabiot are among the midfield options. Olise, Dembele and Cherki will all be competing for prominent attacking roles.
Doue and Bradley Barcola give Zidane additional pace, while Esteban Lepaul offers an option through the middle. With Italy still to come before this fixture, a final predicted lineup would be premature, but France has considerable room to rotate.
BelgiumBelgium’s opening two performances suggest Van Bommel has a team capable of making this return fixture competitive.
His first match brought a 2-0 victory away to Italy, providing an immediate reward for the intensity he wants from the side. The subsequent defeat against France was frustrating because Belgium remained in the contest until the closing minutes.
Mika Godts caused problems in that game, and his willingness to carry the ball forward should remain useful in Paris. Belgium needs players who can relieve pressure without simply giving possession straight back.
Kevin De Bruyne can help turn those moments into chances. If France commits players forward, a well-timed pass into the space behind the defense could quickly change the direction of the match.
Youri Tielemans also has an important role. Belgium needs composure in midfield when France increases the pressure, especially if the hosts begin moving the ball quickly from one side to the other.
The concern is how Belgium handles the range of attacking options available to Zidane. Staying organized for an hour does not remove the threat of fresh players arriving from the French bench.
Belgium must also make more of the opportunities it creates. A strong defensive performance can still end in defeat when an opponent has somebody capable of producing a late goal, as the first meeting demonstrated.
Van Bommel’s side hosts Turkey before traveling to France. That fixture will help shape the final team, particularly in attack, where he has several players whose minutes will need to be managed.
Belgium Team News
Jeremy Doku is absent through injury, while Thibaut Courtois is missing this international window by agreement with Van Bommel.
Senne Lammens started against France in Brussels. Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele and Joaquin Seys were also in the starting lineup, with Maxim De Cuyper appearing from the bench.
Tielemans and Romeo Lavia offer a possible midfield partnership, while De Bruyne remains an important creative option.
Godts should be in contention again after his lively display in the first meeting. Dodi Lukebakio provides another option out wide.
Charles De Ketelaere started through the middle in Brussels, with Romelu Lukaku an unused substitute. Lukaku is available to Van Bommel, although his involvement against Turkey could influence whether he starts this return fixture.
France vs Belgium key factors to consider- France won its opening two Nations League matches 1-0.
- Olise scored an 88th-minute winner in the first meeting with Belgium.
- France kept clean sheets against both Turkey and Belgium.
- Belgium began the campaign with a 2-0 victory away to Italy.
- Mbappe and Konate are unavailable for France.
- Belgium is without the injured Doku, while Courtois is sitting out the window by agreement.
- Both teams play another group match before meeting at Stade de France.
Belgium has enough quality to create problems, particularly through Godts and De Bruyne. The first meeting was close, and the visitors should take confidence from how long they kept France waiting for the winning goal.
France still has the stronger range of attacking options. Even with Mbappe unavailable, Zidane can call on several players capable of beating a defender or finding a decisive pass.
Home advantage adds to that edge. Belgium could keep the score close again, but France looks more likely to produce the moment that settles the contest.
France to win is the best selection.
Verdict: France to win
Best odds: 51/100 (provisional)
Bookmaker: 1xBet
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