The top two in UEFA Nations League Group A1 meet at the Stade de France on Monday as Zinedine Zidane's France put their unbeaten start on the line against Belgium.
Zidane won his opening two matches after succeeding Didier Deschamps as France head coach in the summer, including a 1-0 success against Belgium at the end of last month, although they were most recently held to a 1-1 draw by Italy.
That leaves Les Bleus top of their Nations League group on seven points, one clear of Belgium, who have claimed victories over Italy and Turkey either side of their defeat to France, marking a more than reasonable start in the dugout for their new head coach Mark van Bommel.
France v Belgium Tips Summary
Best Bet - France to win and under 3.5 goals @ 13/8
Alternative Bet - Romeo Lavia to be booked @ 12/5
Bet Builder - Michael Olise to score or assist, Desire Doue 3+ shots, Romeo Lavia 2+ fouls, Nicolas Raskin 1+ fouls & Rayan Cherki 1+ fouls @ 29/4
France v Belgium Prediction
Best Bet: France to win and under 3.5 goals @ 13/8
France boast arguably the most talented front line in world football but they haven't fully flexed their attacking muscles under Zidane, scoring three goals in as many games.
Their cause in the final third was not helped by the injury picked up by Kylian Mbappe, who withdrew from the squad after scoring the winner in the group opener against Turkey.
Defensively Les Bleus have looked solid, as Alessandro Bastoni's equaliser for Italy on Friday is the only goal they have conceded in the group, which includes their clean sheet against Belgium in Brussels last Monday.
That was France's sixth win on the spin against Belgium, four of which have been achieved by a 1-0 or 2-0 scoreline, and a similar outcome could be on the cards at the Stade de France with the visitors missing two of their key creative players.
Kevin De Bruyne, who scored twice in Belgium's 3-0 win over Turkey on Friday, and captain Youri Tielemans are both suspended after picking up their second yellow cards of the tournament in that game.
The duo's absence will leave a big hole for Belgium to fill in the middle of the park and France can exploit that even if they fail to let the handbrake fully off for the fourth successive game.
Alternative Bet: Romeo Lavia to be booked @ 12/5
With De Bruyne and Tielemans out, Belgium's midfield could be stretched on Monday, with Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Raskin likely to come into the team to support Hans Vanaken.
Chelsea star Lavia has given away four fouls over this international break despite only starting once and he was booked in the Red Devils' opening win over Italy.
With the likes of Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki floating in and around the attacking areas for France, Lavia will no doubt have to fight for possession and he is a prime candidate to pick up his second yellow card of the competition.
France v Belgium Bet Builder Tip
Michael Olise to score or assist
Desire Doue 3+ shots
Romeo Lavia 2+ fouls
Nicolas Raskin 1+ fouls
Rayan Cherki 1+ fouls
Pays 29/4
Olise has enjoyed a scintillating start to the season with Bayern Munich, with 12 goal involvements in seven games, and he has taken his club form into this international break as he has scored or assisted in each of France's three matches.
The former Crystal Palace star scored the winner as a substitute against Belgium last Monday and can have a major say on proceedings once again.
Olise's team-mate Desire Doue should also provide a threat. He has fired off 10 shots during this international break, five of which came in the reverse meeting with Belgium.
As mentioned, Belgium's midfield could be in for a tough evening and Lavia, who has conceded four fouls in three games, could commit a further two infringements - perhaps on his way to a yellow card.
His midfield companion Raskin gave away 12 fouls in four starts at this summer's World Cup.
There may also be value in siding with France ace Cherki to commit a foul.
A creative force he may be, but the Manchester City attacking midfielder has been pulled up by the referee five times during this international break - no member of Zidane's squad has been penalised more.
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Key Match Stats
France have won six matches in a row against Belgium
Michael Olise scored as France won the reverse meeting between the sides 1-0 in Brussels
Olise has 15 goal involvements in 10 appearances for club and country this season
Belgium's last victory over France was a 4-3 friendly success at the Stade de France in June 2015
France finished third in the 2024/25 Nations League and are former winners, lifting the trophy in 2021
Belgium's best Nations League performance was also in 2021 when they finished fourth
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
