Euro 2024: France vs Belgium tips and predictions - Mbappe to lead Les Blues past disjointed Red Devils
- George Dempsey
- 28 June 2024
France and Belgium haven’t lived up to expectations at Euro 2024 but we’re expecting Les Blues to progress from their Round of 16 fixture in Dusseldorf on Monday (1700 BST).
The Round of 16 continues on Monday as much-fancied France take on a Belgium side that were booed off the pitch despite qualifying as runners-up from Group E.
France featured in the World Cup final 18 months ago and many tipped them as the team to beat at Euro 2024, but we’ve seen a leisurely start from Didier Deschamp’s side.
Austria successfully disrupted their rhythm and was able to dominate possession in the second half, but Les Blues were the most threatening side and deserved their 1-0 win.
They still weren’t convincing when drawing 0-0 with the Netherlands. Antoine Griezmann missed a sitter to settle it, but Xavi Simons also had a goal debatably disallowed.
Just like in the 0-0 draw they played out with an average Canadian side before the tournament, there was no clinical end product without Kylian Mbappe.
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The 1-1 draw against Poland saw a more complete performance as the French dominated the ball, created clear chances and limited their opponents, until a clumsy tackle from Dayot Upamecano.
The 2016 finalists have yet to produce a complete performance which means they’ve landed on the same side of the draw as Spain, Germany, Portugal and Belgium.
Euro 2024 has been a bizarre tournament. After pockets of England fans booed the Three Lions, who won the group, Belgium’s fan base booed and shooed players away after drawing 0-0 with Ukraine.
The Red Devils finished second in the group behind Romania, who they beat 2-0 days earlier, but fans were dismayed with the manner of their performances.
In truth, they did enough to beat Slovakia and win two matches. That said, there were moments in all three matches when they looked like a collective of talented individuals.
France’s well-marshalled backline should be able to limit Jeremy Doku and Romelu Lukaku’s involvement, starving Kevin De Bruyne of options. You also have to worry about Belgium’s defence.
Half of their backline spent last season playing Championship football and not even the most ardent Leicester support could get behind the idea of Wout Faes dealing with Kylian Mbappe.
Team news
Mbappe could be moved out wide to make room for Oliver Giroud as Deschamps continues to tinker with the lineup.
France have used different systems so far but they’re expected to persist with 4-3-3 here, starting N’Golo Kante, Adrien Rabiot and Aurelien Tchouameni in midfield.
Belgium have played a 4-2-3-1 in each of their games, with Lukaku, De Bruyne, Doku, Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana starting every game.
Key stats
- France have won all five tournament meetings with Belgium
- Les Blues won the most recent competitive meetings 3-2 and 1-0
- France have conceded one goal in their last five matches
- Belgium have failed to score in four of five matches at major tournaments
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