France face Belgium in the Euro 2024 last 16 looking to generate momentum after a set-back in the group stage.
Failure to win Group D, thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s retaken penalty, means Didier Deschamps’ side must contend with hosts Germany, Spain and, perhaps, Portugal in the same half of the draw en route to the final in Berlin. Deschamps has a selection headache, too, with Antoine Griezmann’s involvement uncertain as Les Bleus search for the right balance in the line-up.
And they face a Belgian side with similar doubts and problems after a tough group stage of their own, settling for second in Group E behind Romania following an uninspiring draw with Ukraine, which saw Kevin De Bruyne and other players clash with their own supporters at full-time.
Follow all the build-up and team news from France v Belgium in Dusseldorf below.
France 0-0 Belgium
33 mins: Oh my!
This is the best chance of the game so far. Another fine cross field pass releases Jules Kounde into space on the right wing. He swings an early cross into the penalty area.
Marcus Thuram leaps ahead of the centre-back and powers his header over the top of the crossbar. A few inches lower and that’s the opening goal.
France 0-0 Belgium
30 mins: Kounde threads a pass down the inside right channel as Marcus Thuram looks to make the run in behind the left-sided centre-back. Jan Vertonghen holds his ground and Thuram runs into him before falling off balance.
Belgium clear the ball.
France 0-0 Belgium
27 mins: Chance! Openda is fed the ball by Doku on the left. He spins off the shoulder of his marker and blazes a cross into the middle of the area.
The ball bounces of Carrasco who shoots and has the effort blocked. There’s an appeal for handball after the block but nothing comes from it.
France 0-0 Belgium
24 mins: Adrien Rabiot challenges for a ball in the middle of the pitch, wins it and follows through onto the legs of Jeremy Doku. Rabiot is booked and will miss the next match for France should they get through.
Earlier Mike Maignan is called into action after Belgium send an teasing ball into the box. It’s on target and the goalkeeper scoops it away with an awkward clearance.
France 0-0 Belgium
21 mins: Strong centre-forward play from Romelu Lukaku who chests down an aerial ball and lays it off. Yannick Carrasco gets forward on the right wing and receives the pass.
He cuts into the box and floats a cross to the back post but Jules Kounde is there to softly head the ball back to his own goalkeeper.
France 0-0 Belgium
18 mins: France win another corner and swing the ball onto the head of Marcus Thuram who nods it wide of the target. Les Bleus are beginning to take control of this match.
France 0-0 Belgium
15 mins: Griezmann jogs over to take a corner for France. He knocks it short to Theo Hernandez who plays a one-two with Kylian Mbappe to get to the edge of the box.
Mbappe shuffles inside and receives the ball again where he rolls it onto his right foot and shoots!
The ball goes over the crossbar having taken a clear deflection from the nearest defender. The referee awards a goal kick though and Aurelien Tchouameni isn’t happy.
He tells the official as much and sees himself collect a yellow card for the protest.
France 0-0 Belgium
12 mins: Nearly!
France switch the play and pick out Jules Kounde on the right wing. He pokes it forward to Antoine Griezmann who flicks a reverse pass into the penalty area.
Kounde continues his run, collects the ball and cuts it back but there are no French players in the middle to pick out!
France 0-0 Belgium
9 mins: Mbappe receives and a brings the ball in from the left wing. He feints a shot and lays the ball off to Antoine Griezmann instead.
France then feed it over to Marcus Thuram on the opposite wing but he’s brought down by a lunging Arthur Theate. The referee awards Belgium a goalkick and sees nothing wrong with the tackle.
France 0-0 Belgium
6 mins: These opening minutes have seen Belgium looking to get forward in quick bursts of pace and get the French defence turning towards their own goal.
France have been more methodical on the ball, passing it around and looking for space in between the lines. Both teams still trying to find their feet in the game.
Source: independent.co.uk
