Euro 2024: France vs Belgium Preview, Odds, Predictions

The last 16 Euro 2024 matches feature a reunion of 2018 World Cup semi-final opponents when France and Belgium play in Dusseldorf on Monday night.

In the group stage, neither country displayed its full potential; dismal final-day draws forced both to unexpected second-placed results.

France x Belgium Team News

Mbappe will surely be pleased to lead the France charge here after playing 90 minutes against Poland without any problems, and Deschamps is likely to have every single one of his troops available to him.

Although the French manager decided to put Antoine Griezmann on the bench for the last Group D match, the Atletico Madrid player is expected to make a quick comeback to the starting lineup. France should return to their 4-2-3-1 formation.

There is much conjecture over who is sacrificed for Griezmann. Bradley Barcola might have done enough against Poland to return to his left-wing position; thus, Adrien Rabiot might have sacrificed his soul unluckily.

Continued with the winger theme, Belgium head coach Tedesco will have Dodi Lukebakio back at his disposal on Monday after his suspension. He may recall the Sevilla player to the XI at the expense of Leandro Trossard, who was ineffective against Ukraine, but Yannick Carrasco is a contender as well and was a threat the last time out.

The sole two injury concerns Tedesco has are still Axel Witsel (adductor) and Thomas Meunier (thigh), and although both are making good progress in their recoveries, neither should be playing in Dusseldorf.

Wout Faes did himself justice last week with a goal-saving block to deny Ukraine's Artem Dovbyk, and he is sure to start regardless. Still, Tedesco's defensive problem would be further exacerbated if he receives a suspension-inducing yellow card on Monday.

Head To Head And Previous Matches

Real Madrid-bound Kylian Mbappe eventually broke his Euros drought for the third time trying in France's recent Group D match against Poland, smashing home a spot kick early in the second half before the Poles were given a 12-yard attempt.

Although Mike Maignan first denied the stopping-and-starting Robert Lewandowski, the AC Milan goalie was penalized for stepping off his line, enabling his Barcelona counterpart to take the same run-up, aim for the same corner, and produce a different, desired result in a quiet 1-1 draw.

With Didier Deschamps's team forced to settle for runners-up after Austria's thrilling victory over the Netherlands, a furious Maignan was left to take his concerns on social media, pointing at the penalties regulations as Lewandowski made his "87th stutter".

Portugal, Germany, and Spain are all in the same last-16 bracket. Thus, an underperforming France has several enormous hurdles in its path to the final as Ralf Rangnick's team prepares to play Turkey on the friendlier side of the draw.

Still, one goal allowed throughout the group stage was the joint second-best defensive record (behind an undefeated Spain) and the only effort that Deschamps's team has let up in their past five games overall.

Such commendable defensive numbers make for depressing reading for a Belgium team that lost two of their three games in Group E, when all four teams astonishingly finished on the same number of points, surprising a European Championship first in the men's game.

After a 2-0 victory over Romania on matchday two, Domenico Tedesco's team looked to have found their attacking form again. Still, they were thwarted in a goalless draw against Ukraine on Wednesday, when they had to thank both Koen Casteels and his visitors' wastefulness for keeping their Euros alive.

Tedesco has many attacking dilemmas as his side managed just two goals across the group stage; Serbia netted fewer goals with only one strike. Belgium slipped in second place behind Romania and their better goal difference as the eliminated Blue and Yellow left in despair.

Although Mbappe could be off, Romelu Lukaku, who is unlucky, can find comfort in the fact that only one of the Red Devils' last 18 games in all competitions has resulted in defeat—albeit that was against the resilient Slovakians just a few weeks ago.

Frequent opponents of France over the past century, Belgium lost 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and then 3-2 to Deschamps's team in the 2021 Nations League semi-final. If the Red Devils can exact revenge on those Bleus blues, Portugal or Slovenia will await them.

Our Predictions

France to win @1.94 on Sky247.ng

Even though both managers have an incredible attacking arsenal, neither side has been able to get going at the Euros, resulting in a dull matchup where defenses should prevail most of the time.

But Belgium was lucky not to lose and be eliminated by Ukraine. Hence, the men in blue should win if there is just one goal in the full ninety minutes.

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