Neighbors Belgium And France meet for the second time in the space of a month on matchday four in the UEFA Nations League on Monday evening.

France have recovered from an opening day defeat by winning their last two, while Belgium have fallen from first to third place since beating Israel on matchday one.

Match example

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She saw a real Jekyll-and-Hyde performance from Belgium take a point from the Stadio Olimpico against Italy on Thursday night, and they will have been hugely disappointed if they didn’t come away with a win.

Domenico Tedesco‘s men were completely dominated in the first thirty minutes, going 2-0 down and threatening to concede even more, but Lorenzo PellegriniThe rash challenge got him sacked and changed the entire format of the game.

Belgium immediately withdrew one thanks Maxim De Cuyper, Leandro Trossard after which the equalizer was scored on the hour mark, and the Red Devils claimed they should be awarded a penalty and a red card Alessandro Bastoniafter he chopped Lois Openda a little later in the area.

However, Italy kept ten on the field and would keep Belgium at bay for the remaining half hour, but the draw means Tedesco’s men are in trouble. decent position after three gameseven though it could have been better.

Everyone has beaten Israel so far, and Belgium still have the two heavyweights to play at home, so they will feel like they have the upper hand despite currently sitting outside the top two.

These two neighbors are getting very used to meeting each other, as they faced each other in France last month, and in Germany over the summer.

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France won 2-0 in the reverse just over four weeks ago, and Les Bleus were also successful at the European Championship, with a very forgettable 1-0 success in the last sixteen.

Didier Deschamps has always had one over Belgium when it comes to competitive encounters, as his France side also beat Belgium 3-2 in the Nations League semi-finals in 2021, despite trailing 2-0, and they also defeated the Red Devils in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

If that wasn’t enough to make the French embark on this short journey with peace of mind, the fact that they did won 4-1 against Israel in a completely dominant performance on Thursday.

In neutral Hungary, France were in complete control for 90 minutes as Israel’s equalizer came with their only shot of the match, and after taking the lead again four minutes later, the two late goals put a well-deserved shine on the scoreline .

Deschamps needed a response from his team after the 3-1 home defeat to Italy on matchday one, and that’s what he got, with two wins from two, and another here should almost guarantee a place in the top two as they still have to do that. facing the whipping of the group, Israel, at home.

Belgian Nations League form:

Form Belgium (all competitions):

Format of the France Nations League:

France form (all competitions):

Team news

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Romelu Lukaku was not called up again despite showing promising form at Napoli, with the forward claiming he needed to stay in Naples to build up his fitness after missing much of pre-season.

The ongoing rift between manager Tedesco and Thibaut Courtois This means that the Real Madrid goalkeeper would not have been called up, but he is currently out with an injury Matz Sels also retreated late with a blow.

Kevin DeBruyne is the other notable absentee, meaning Youri Tielemans is the only member of the 2018 World Cup squad currently still in the squad.

It looked like Tedesco was experimenting with a back three system in the first half against Italy before the red card, and although they were struggling, the lack of options available in midfield could see him try it again started.

France is without Kylian Mbappe after perhaps being sent back too quickly by his club following a recent setback, and therefore withdrawing from this squad.

After being dropped following their 3-1 defeat to Italy, Antoine Griezmann then announced his international retirement late last month, stating that he does not want to be part of the line-up if he is not a regular starter, despite being one of Deschamps’ favorites.

N’Golo Kante was not called up after missing his club’s most recent match in Saudi Arabia Adrian RabiotThe lack of playing time at Marseille also cost him his place.

After scoring from the bench on Thursday, both Bradley Barcola And Matteo Guendouzi could come into the team, especially if Deschamps decides to return to third in midfield after choosing a very attacking line-up against Israel.

Possible starting line-up for Belgium:
Casteels; Castagne, Debast, Faes, Theate, De Cuyper; Tielemans, Mangala; Trossard, Openda, Doku

Possible starting line-up for France:
Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, T Hernandez; Tchouameni, Camavinga, Guendouzi; Olise, Kolo Muani, Barcola

We say: Belgium 1-2 France

In more testing environments, France haven’t been great of late, with just six wins in 90 minutes in their last fourteen games, but they should have just enough here to beat the weakened Belgian team.

Belgium could not participate in an eleven against eleven match against Italy, and the 2-0 defeat in Lyon last month suggests that things could become difficult again, despite the home advantage.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match, click here.

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