Belgium vs France: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

This will be a competitive fixture between two of the top nations in Europe. However, we are backing the visitors France to come away with a narrow win. France have the recent edge over their opponents having won four games in a row against Belgium.

Belgium have struggled defensively of late, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last four games in all competitions and last five against France. The away side have been frequent scorers, scoring first in six of their previous seven games in all competitions. However, based on their recent meetings, this fixture does not provide goals and we expect that to continue. Five of the last seven have produced fewer than 2.5 goals. Belgium have only won once in their previous five games, whilst France have won four of their last six – Belgium 0-1 France

Belgium welcomes France to the King Baudouin Stadium, where the two European giants will face off in matchday four of the Nations League.

Date: 14/10/24

Kick-off time: 19:45

Venue: King Baudouin Stadium

Monday night, Belgium plays host to France in a crucial fixture in League A Group 2 of the Nations League. The home side currently sit third with four points after three games played, having picked up a win, draw, and loss. The latest result was a 2-2 draw at group leaders Italy, which has brought them back within touching distance of the top. A victory over France would see them move up in the table.

France are one place ahead in second with two wins and a loss so far. Their one defeat was against Italy in the first game of the tournament. The Italians came from behind to win that fixture 3-1. The two teams have already played each other, with France winning 2-0 on matchday two. A similar scoreline would leave their opponents five points behind them and significantly damage their chances of advancing from the group.

The hosts have been vulnerable at the back of late, not keeping a clean sheet in their last four games, a run which stretches back to the European Championship group stages, in which they kept two. They have conceded six goals in this stretch, including three to France across two games. This should give a talented French attack confidence in creating and scoring chances. However, they will be without star man Kylian Mbappe through injury and Antoine Griezmann who retired from international football.

Whilst these are two big holes to fill, France can call upon Christopher Nkunku, who has been called up for the first time in over a year. The Chelsea frontman has scored seven goals in all competitions for his club and opened his account for the national side last time out against Israel. For Belgium, they will be without Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, two key goal threats. Leandro Trossard was one of their scorers against Italy and will hope to continue his good club form which has seen him net twice for Arsenal.

Belgium vs France will not be available to watch on TV in the UK.

France

Didier Deschamps did not include Kylian Mbappe in the squad, as he remained in Madrid to recover from a recent injury. Christopher Nkunku has been named in his place, the Chelsea striker's first international call-up in over a year. It will be the first international fixtures without Antoine Griezmann, who just announced his retirement from the national team. The likes of Michael Olise and Manu Kone could see more minutes.

Belgium

Manager Domenico Tedesco called up Maarten Vandevoordt, Matte Smets, Cyril Ngonge and Malick Fofana for the first time. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne were left out with fitness concerns. Premier League stars Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are involved.

Belgium:

In their last five games, Belgium have won one, drawn two and lost two. It has been an underwhelming stretch for Belgium which stretches back to the European Championships. The first game of this run was the final group stage game of the tournament, in which they were held to a goalless draw by Ukraine.

Belgium's Euros journey came to a premature end in the first round of the knockout stages, losing 1-0 to France. It was late heartbreak for the side as an 85th-minute Jan Vertonghen own goal condemned them to defeat. In September, they played the first match of the Nations League against Israel. This was their only victory of this stretch as they won 3-1. Kevin De Bruyne scored a brace, adding to a Youri Tielemans strike.

A rematch with France in matchday two of the Nations League saw another defeat. Goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele resulted in a 2-0 loss. Their most recent game was a 2-2 draw with Italy. Andrea Cambiaso put the Italians in front very early, before Mateo Retegui doubled the lead. A red card for Lorenzo Pellegrini opened the door for the visitors, and they responded through Maxim De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard.

France:

In their last five games, France have won two, lost two and drawn one. France have gone through an inconsistent stretch, though have been victorious in two consecutive games. The latest win was a 4-1 result at Israel. Eduardo Camavinga opened the scoring before Omri Gandelman netted an equaliser. Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku quickly restored the lead with a fine finish. Matteo Guendouzi and Bradley Barcola added two more late on.

This followed another victory against their upcoming opponents Belgium. Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored in the 2-0 win. A 3-1 loss at home to Italy saw them open up the Nations League on a low note. Barcola scored in the first minute, but goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori turned it around.

The first two games of this run date back to the European Championships. The first was a goalless draw in the quarter-final of the competition against Portugal, which they won 5-3 on penalties. They lost 2-1 in the semi-final to Spain with Dani Olmo scoring the winner.

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