The squabble that exists between France with Belgium is among the most intriguing football stories in Europe. Both teams are brimming with talents, and their tactical strategies make every match an extremely high-risk chess match. Reviewing both the France National Football Team vs Belgium National Football Team Lineups will reveal the way managers manage experienced players with young stars to gain an advantage.
France vs Belgium – Major Encounters and Lineups
In recent times, France and Belgium have played in important matches like The Euro 2024 Round of 16 and back-to-back UEFA Nations League games. Each game featured a various lineups that affected the course of play.
Euro 2024 Round of 16 – France 1-0 Belgium (1 July 2024)
A tight knockout game in Frankfurt ended with a late own goal.
France Lineup (4-3-3)
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GK: Mike Maignan
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DEF: Jules Kounde, Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba, Theo Hernandez
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MID: N’Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot
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FWD: Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Thuram, Kylian Mbappe (captain)
Belgium Lineup (4-3-3)
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GK: Koen Casteels
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DEF: Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes, Jan Vertonghen, Arthur Theate
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MID: Amadou Onana, Kevin De Bruyne, Yannick Carrasco
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FWD: Jeremy Doku, Lois Openda, Romelu Lukaku
Important Moment: France’s breakthrough came in the 85th minute of the match when Vertonghen made an own-goal while under pressure, allowing France through.
UEFA Nations League – France 2-0 Belgium (9 September 2024)
A dominant French game at home has shown that the strength of the team.
France Lineup (4-3-3)
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GK: Mike Maignan
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DEF: Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Lucas Digne
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MID: N’Golo Kante, Manu Kone, Matteo Guendouzi
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FWD: Ousmane Dembele, Marcus Thuram, Randal Kolo Muani
Belgium Lineup (4-2-3-1)
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GK: Koen Casteels
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DEF: Castagne, Faes, Zeno Debast, Theate
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MID: Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, Kevin De Bruyne, Dodi Lukebakio, Jeremy Doku
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FWD: Lois Openda
Important Moment: France pressed high and held midfield in check, while Kolo Muani’s energy in the front drew ire from Belgium throughout.
UEFA Nations League – Belgium 1-2 France (14 October 2024)
A thrilling rematch at Brussels was a success for France triumph due to Randal Kolo Muani’s goal.
France Lineup (4-3-3)
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GK: Mike Maignan
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DEF: Kounde, Ibrahima Konate, Saliba, Lucas Digne
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MID: Tchouameni, Manu Kone, Matteo Guendouzi
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FWD: Michael Olise, Randal Kolo Muani, Bradley Barcola
Belgium Lineup (4-2-3-1)
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GK: Koen Casteels
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DEF: Castagne, Faes, Theate, Debast
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MID: Tielemans, Orel Mangala, Charles De Ketelaere, Jeremy Doku, Leandro Trossard
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FWD: Lois Openda
Key Moment:
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Kolo Muani scored twice, which included a penalty.
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Belgium failed to score a spot-kick due to Tielemans while Maignan produced crucial saves to keep France’s lead.
Comparative Lineup Table
| Match & Date | France Formation & XI | Belgium Formation & XI |
|---|---|---|
| Euro 2024 R16 (1 Jul 2024) | 4-3-3: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot; Griezmann, Thuram, Mbappe | 4-3-3: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate; Onana, De Bruyne, Carrasco; Doku, Openda, Lukaku |
| Nations League (9 Sep 2024) | 4-3-3: Maignan; Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Digne; Kante, Kone, Guendouzi; Dembele, Thuram, Kolo Muani | 4-2-3-1: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Debast, Theate; Tielemans, Onana; De Bruyne, Lukebakio, Doku; Openda |
| Nations League (14 Oct 2024) | 4-3-3: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Saliba, Digne; Tchouameni, Kone, Guendouzi; Olise, Kolo Muani, Barcola | 4-2-3-1: Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Theate, Debast; Tielemans, Mangala; Doku, De Ketelaere, Trossard; Openda |
Tactical Insights
France’s Stability and Depth
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France often played in a 4-3-3formation, which ensured the stability of midfield and defensive stability.
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Younger attackers such as Kolo Muani Olise, as well as Barcola took on the challenge and proved that France’s future is well-equipped.
Belgium’s Transition
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Belgium switched between 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations.
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A heavy dependence of Kevin De Bruyne and the dynamism in Doku is a reflection of their shift from their golden generation.
Goalkeeper Performances
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Mike Maignan (France): Consistently decisive, from penalty saves to controlling his box.
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Koen Casteels (Belgium): Reliable however, often exposed by a weak backline.
Why the Lineups Matter
The France National Football Team is vying with Belgium National Football Team lineups are more than just the names written on paper:
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They provide tactics that are specifically designed for big tournaments.
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They demonstrate how France’s depth of squad allows the rotation of players without degrading.
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They underscore Belgium’s struggle to replace the aging veterans with consistently good performance.
For both analysts and fans Understanding these teams can to explain the reason France currently holds the advantage in this game.
Conclusion
The France National Football Team vs Belgium National Football Team Lineups illustrate the power balance between the two European heavyweights. France’s ability to mix veteran stars with new talent has helped them remain dominant as Belgium’s upcoming shift in their squad highlights both the promise and apprehension.
While these nations continue to compete in important tournaments, their squads will be a harbinger of changing strategies, player growth and the tension in one of Europe’s most prestigious rivalries in football.
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