France ought to maintain no worry forward of dealing with Belgium within the spherical of 16 at Euro 2024, based on Christophe Dugarry.
Les Bleus, who have been among the many favourites previous to the match in Germany, completed second behind Austria in Group D after some unconvincing performances.
Certainly, their objectives got here from a Maximilian Wober personal objective and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, with France touchdown themselves within the harder half of the draw together with Spain, Portugal, hosts Germany and last-16 opponents Belgium, who they play on Monday in Dusseldorf.
That has seen their probabilities of profitable the trophy slip right down to 13%, based on Opta’s supercomputer, however looking forward to Monday’s conflict with Belgium, Duggary, who received the World Cup in 1998 and Euros in 2000, feels France don’t have anything to worry.
“After all, they’ve people, however I don’t see why we must be afraid,” Duggary mentioned in his function as a pundit on Rothen s’ignee on RMC.
“If we aren’t able to beating these Belgians, we [will do] nothing on the European Championship.”
2012 – France had not failed to complete high of their group at a significant match (World Cup + EURO) since EURO 2012, ending a run of 5 consecutive tournaments ending in 1st place of their group. Laborious. #FRAPOL pic.twitter.com/SdtV85HVhv
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 25, 2024
Dugarry pointed to Belgium’s weak defence as a purpose for France to be assured.
“[Timothy] Castagne, [Wout] Faes, [Jan] Vertonghen who’s 37… They’ve a midfield with [good] gamers, however nobody defends on this staff. For me, they’re an enigma.
“[Jeremy] Doku is identical as [Ousmane] Dembele. However given the criticism that we’ve placed on Dembele because the begin of the competitors, we’re not going to say higher about Doku.
“I perceive the Belgian supporters, who’re upset. We’ve been speaking to them for years and years a couple of golden era. However the golden era is beginning to not be golden in any respect. They haven’t any legs, no aggression.”
If France are to benefit from Belgium’s detached performances to this point, then they are going to want their forwards to be firing on all cylinders, one thing defender William Saliba is aware of.
“It’s true we didn’t rating many objectives within the group stage. Whenever you don’t rating lots, you must be centered,” Saliba mentioned.
“However that’s how it may be when you find yourself enjoying on the highest degree. However I’ve little doubt that the attackers shall be there within the spherical of 16 and ship.
“It’s clear that we have now to be extra harmful with our set-pieces, particularly me. I believe I haven’t even touched one, so we will do higher.”
Belgium’s attackers equally misfired in Group E. Actually, solely Serbia (3.8%) had a poorer shot conversion charge within the group stage than Belgium and France (each 4.2% – two objectives from 48 photographs).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
France – Kylian Mbappe
Mbappe netted his first ever objective on the Euros when he put away that penalty in opposition to Poland. It took his tally to 13 objectives throughout main tournaments, with solely Michel Platini (14 in 19 video games) ever scoring extra for France.
The brand new Actual Madrid ahead can be solely two objectives away from changing into the third French participant to attain 50 objectives in all competitions, after Olivier Giroud (57) and Thierry Henry (51).
13 – Kylian Mbappé equals Simply Fontaine (13) for probably the most objectives scored with France in main tournaments (World Cup + EURO) and is now second solely to Michel Platini (14). Captain. #FRAPOL pic.twitter.com/ZATn7iqMtL
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) June 25, 2024
Belgium – Kevin De Bruyne
In the course of the group stage, Belgium have been the staff with the best share of their line-breaking passes being those who broke the opposition’s defensive position (18%).
And it was De Bruyne who broke the opponent’s defensive position on extra events than another midfielder (11). If Belgium are to progress, they are going to want their playmaker on high kind.
MATCH PREDICTION: FRANCE WIN
France have drawn 5 of their final six Euro matches (one win), having solely drawn 4 of their earlier 25 video games within the competitors (14 wins, seven defeats). Their round-of-16 match at Euro 2020 was a 3-3 draw with Switzerland, with Les Bleus ultimately going out 5-4 on penalties.
Belgium, in the meantime, have superior to the knockout levels of a 3rd consecutive Euros, having reached the quarter-finals in 2016 and 2020. The Purple Devils have received every of their final 4 last-16 video games at main tournaments since shedding to Brazil within the 2002 World Cup (0-2).
Nonetheless, France have received all 4 of their earlier matches in opposition to Belgium at main tournaments, scoring 13 objectives and conceding solely three.
Their solely earlier assembly on the Euros was 40 years in the past, in 1984 – France received 5-0 within the group levels courtesy of a Platini hat-trick and objectives from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez.
This shall be France and Belgium’s 76th encounter general. Les Bleus have confronted the Belgians practically twice as usually as another staff (39 conferences every with Italy and Switzerland). In the meantime, Belgium have solely confronted the Netherlands (129 occasions) on extra events than the French.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
France – 58.4%
Belgium – 20.8%
Draw – 20.8%