In Dusseldorf, on Monday afternoon (1/7, 19:00) the France and Belgiumto the most… fancy couple in the “16” phase!
The match will be televised by ERT1radioed by News Bulletin 247while there will be live updates from sport-fm.gr.
It should be noted that the winner of the pair will face in the quarter-finals, on Friday (5/7, 22:00) in Hamburg, his counterpart Portugal-Slovenia (1/7, 22:00).
The truth is that it might be the strongest clash (at least in theory), but neither team impressed in the group stage.
On the one hand, France finished second in the 4th groupwith five points to +1 from the Netherlands and -1 from the big surprise, Austria (last Poland with one point).
The “blues” started on the right by winning, even with an own goal, 1-0 her Austria. However, then the mediocre performances were accompanied by the corresponding results, bringing two straight draws. First, the 0-0 with the Netherlands and, finally, the 1-1 with the Poland. A game in which she had possibly her best 25 minutes of the tournament. Afterwards, however, he “sat” on the lead he took in the 56th minute with Mbappe (who scored for the first time in Euro). In fact, he finished the group stage having found the net twice (concealing one goal), with an own goal and with a penalty.
Secondly finish it too Belgium. In the 5th group, i.e. that of… absolute equality (at four points)! In the context of the third and last match, there was a draw (0-0) with the Ukraine, which was also the one that fell behind in this terrible four-way tie, being out of the tournament (Romania first, Slovakia third). This result, therefore, brought her to France but also to the most difficult part of the board (the top).
It was preceded by defeat (0-1) of the premiere from Slovakia and victory (2-0) on her Romania. For a team, with a lot of quality, which – for yet another event – is not reflected on the playing field. At the same time, he remains… bulletproof Lukaku, who has three goals disallowed via VAR. It is recalled that the “red devils” have qualified for the quarter-finals of the recent Euros as well.
In the event of a tie, there will be a half-hour overtime and, if necessary, a penalty shoot-out.
In the competitive part now, first of all for the typical home team, the French, o Mbappe will give “present” again. Moreover, since the game against Poland he has returned to the starting line-up, after the fracture he suffered in his nose in the match of the first match against Austria. In fact, today he will play with a different mask, hoping that it will be more convenient for him than the previous one. Absences, therefore, do not exist for Didier Deschamps.
As far as the Belgians are concerned, he examined and returns Lukebaki, probably also in the original format instead of Trossard. They remain doubtful Meunier and Witzel, who have not competed at all in the tournament. The latter has more chances to play today.
Possible compositions:
France (Didier Deschamps): Menian – Kouté, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez – Kante, Tswameni, Rabiot – Dembele, Mbappe, Griezmann.
Belgium (Domenico Tedesto): Castells – Castan, Faes, Vertonghen, Teat – Tielemans, Onana – Lukebaccio, De Bruyne, Doku – Lukaku.
The referee of the match will be the Swede Glenn Nybergwhile VAR the Dutchman Paul van Boeckel.
In its 18 official and unofficial meetings with Belgium, regardless of venue and organization, France has a small advantage (8N-5I-5H). The same in the last six (3W-2I-1H)that is, the last 20 years.
Source: Sport Fm
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
