Tuesday, July 10, 2018

France vs Belgium - Competition: World Cup
Date: 10 July 2018 - Kick-off Time: 19:00 BST - 20:00 CET
Venue: Saint-Petersburg Stadium
 
France team secured their route through with hard-fought and narrow wins over Peru and Australia in their opening two matches. Les Blues drew 0-0 with Denmark in the final group stage match. Their first knock-out game saw them defeat Argentina in a thrilling 4-3 triumph as Lionel Messi was knocked out of the competition. Then Deschamps' men reached their sixth World Cup Semi Final with their solid 2-0 victory over Uruguay. Doubts should remain about a defence who conceded three times against Argentina but in France's other four matches, a goal has not been conceded from open play. Excluding shootouts, France have lost just one of their last 13 games in the knockout rounds of the World Cup.
Didier Deschamps is unlikely to make sweeping changes. Sidibe is a doubt for Les Blues, but he is their only injury concern here. Suspended Blaise Matuidi gave place to Corentin Tolisso in midfield, but Juve’s man is expected to return to the starting XI here. Olivier Giroud should spearhead the attack once again, with Kylian Mbappè and Antoine Girezmann behind him. No changes are expected in defense where Raphael Varane and Samuel Umtiti wil lbe flanked by Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard.

Belgium won all three of their group stage clashes - 3:0 over Panama, 5-2 over Tunisia and 1-0 over England. The Red Devils survived a scare in the last 16 round by beating Japan 3-2 courtesy of a last gasp goal, after they were 2 goals down in the second half. Roberto Martinez's men came through a heavyweight clash in the quarter-finals as they knocked joint-favourites Brazil out (2-1) in a pulsating match. They were dominated, but they managed to score two goals from only three attempts on target in the game. Belgium are now unbeaten in their last 24 games under manager Roberto Martinez, winning 19 and drawing five.
Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens were victims of the tactics change last time out and could be benched once again. Thomas Meunier is suspended after he received his second yellow of the World Cup last time out. Martinez has tipped Chadli and Adnan Januzaj are both options to fill the void on the right. He is expected to switch to a 4-3-3 formation with Jan Vertonghen playing as left back. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne should flank Romelu Lukaku up front, while Marouane Fellaini should join Mousa Dembele and Axel Witsel in a very strong midfield.

Probable lineups:
France: Lloris – Pavard, Varane, Umtiti, Hernandez – Pogba, Kante– Mbappe, Griezmann, Matuidi – Giroud.
Belgium: Courtois – Alderweireld, Kompany, Vertonghen – Tielemans, Fellaini, Witsel, Chadli – de Bruyne, Lukaku, Hazard.








 

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