League of Nations: Belgium-France, watch out for the shocks

Lacking leaders, between the departure of Antoine Griezmann and the absence of Kylian Mbappé, the French team will have to show great strength of character on Monday in Belgium, where a good result would bring them closer to qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Nations League.

Four days after their stroll against Israel (4-1), Didier Deschamps' young Blues will be faced with an opponent of a completely different caliber. A real test for a team in the midst of generational renewal and which is trying to rebuild itself following a very disappointing Euro.

The French had certainly dominated the Belgians on the verge of crisis quite easily on September 9 in Lyon (2-0), but their edifice has become significantly fragile in recent months and they are going without certainty to a neighbor that they had painfully eliminated in the 8th finals of the European Championship (1-0).

Lack of creativity, overly predictable play and a coach who is trying to ward off the spectre of the end of a cycle after more than 12 years in charge: the vice-world champions are walking a tightrope. A context made even more tense by the incessant controversies surrounding captain Mbappé. After a failed Euro and a questionable involvement in the September gathering, the superstar, who was nevertheless left at Real Madrid's disposal to treat a left thigh injury, continues to dominate the life of the Blues from a distance.

After his starting place in La Liga on Saturday, two days after the announcement of his non-call-up, it was this time his presence in a nightclub in Stockholm on the evening of Israel – France on Thursday that caused some incomprehension.

“Kylian is following a program with his club, I don't know if he was off, if he was there or not (…) If the players are on days off, they have the freedom to do what they want,” commented Deschamps on Sunday on Téléfoot. The day before, Matteo Guendouzi and Wesley Fofana had also defended their captain, not doubting his “attachment” to the French team.

– A love rating that is eroding –

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French international Mattéo Guendouzi against Israel in the League of Nations, October 10, 2024, in Budapest © AFP – FRANCK FIFE

The climate is therefore not really serene around the Blues, whose popularity is starting to erode little by little. The match against Israel, broadcast on TF1, the first without the darling of the French Antoine Griezmann, ranked at the top of the programs but only gathered 3,982,000 viewers according to Mediamétrie, a very low score.

While waiting to find Mbappé in peak physical and moral form, the players present in Brussels must write their own story and gain depth. Their ability to resist away from home will be scrutinized against a nation that has not beaten France since 2015 and will be eager for revenge despite its current major limitations and the absence of its star Kevin De Bruyne, injured.

Are Les Bleus capable of wrapping up a match to win back the hearts of the supporters? The question has remained nagging since the Euro and the task has been made even more difficult by the international retirements of two historic players, Griezmann and Olivier Giroud, the top scorer in the history of the selection (57). Because if the defense will have to repel the attacks of the Belgian attackers Jérémy Doku or Loïs Openda, it is still at the level of the offensive sector that the awakening is hoped for, the four goals scored against the Israelis requiring confirmation.

Belgian striker Jérémy Doku against Italy in the Nations League, October 10, 2024, in Rome © AFP – Alberto PIZZOLI

This will be one of the missions of Marcus Thuram, who should be lined up up front. It is up to the former Guingamp player, so effective with Inter Milan, to finally deliver a performance worthy of the name in the French team and to dispel the big doubts concerning his level on the international level.

“He is very effective with his club in a very particular system but he has a step to take. For attacking players, the gap is greater because there is an obligation to be decisive. It requires patience and calm to make the right move,” said Deschamps on Sunday.

A breakthrough in Belgium would suit a coach under pressure: if his troops avoid defeat, they will be in a favourable position to grab one of the first two places in Group 2 and a ticket to the quarter-finals of the Nations League before the last two matches (reception of Israel on November 14, away to Italy on November 17).

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