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International Friendlies
Jun 7, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
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Valbuena (53' pen.), Fekir (89'), Payet (91')
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­Fellaini (17', 42'), Nainggolan (50'), Hazard (54' pen.)

Preview: France vs. Belgium

:Headline: Preview: France vs. Belgium: ID:226723: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Sunday night's international friendly at the Stade de France between European neighbours France and Belgium.

Euro 2016 hosts France face next-door neighbours Belgium at the Stade de France on Sunday in what could be a fiery friendly between two teams that fell at the quarter-final stage of last year's World Cup.

While the French are eagerly awaiting a home tournament in a year's time, Belgium's focus is on qualifying and they will want a positive result here ahead of Friday's Group B showdown with Wales.


France

Didier Deschamps's Bleus are counting down the days until their tournament next summer, but between now and then they have several friendlies to get themselves ready.

None will be much tougher than this, but they will go into the match in a confident mood having lost just one of their last 13 matches in France.

That defeat came against Brazil back in March, but they recovered from that 3-1 loss by seeing off Denmark 2-0 three days later in their last match.

Despite not playing competitive football since their World Cup exit at the quarter-final stage to eventual winners Germany a year ago, France moved back into the top 10 of the latest FIFA rankings by climbing two places up to ninth.

Tomorrow's game is the first of a friendly double-header, with a trip to Albania up next in a week's time.

Recent form: WWDWLW


Belgium

While the French are solely focusing on squad harmony and preparation for next summer's tournament, Belgium will view this match as a chance to hit peak form ahead of their crucial qualifier against Wales on Friday.

The two unbeaten sides sit top of Group B at the halfway mark of qualifying with three wins and two draws to their name.

Belgium are in first as it stands thanks to their superior goal difference - they've only conceded once in qualifying and scored 13.

Last time out, captain Vincent Kompany was sent off for two yellow cards, but Marouane Fellaini's ninth-minute goal was enough for the Red Devils to win impressively in Israel.

That made it seven games unbeaten for Marc Wilmots's men since they lost in the quarter-finals of the World Cup and they recently climbed to an all-time high of second behind Germany in the world rankings, leapfrogging Argentina, the side that beat them in Brazil a year ago.

Away from home, Belgium have lost just one of their last 10 games.

Recent form in friendlies: DWWWWW
Recent form (all competitions): WDWDWW


Team News

Deschamps could hand an international debut to Rennes attacker Paul-Georges Ntep after picking him in his 24-man squad for tomorrow's game and the friendly against Albania next week.

Juventus duo Paul Pogba and Patrice Evra were also named in the squad, but they won't be available for this game as they are featuring in tonight's Champions League final against Barcelona.

Wilmots decided to leave Red Devils captain Kompany out of his squad after his red card against Israel which keeps him out of Friday's qualifier against Wales. He could have played in this game, but Wilmots will instead test the backline that he wants to start against Gareth Bale and the Welsh.

Elsewhere, Wilmots has no new problems and should start Premier League regulars Fellaini, Thibaut Courtois, Toby Alderweireld, Jan Vertonghen, Eden Hazard and Christian Benteke.

France possible starting lineup:
Lloris; Tremoulinas, Koscielny, Varane, Jallet; Kondogbia, Cabaye; Griezmann, Payet; Lacazette, Giroud

Belgium possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Lombaerts, Vertonghen; Nainggolan, Witsel, Fellaini; De Bruyne, Hazard; Benteke


Head To Head

The duo haven't met in a competitive game since the six-goal third-place playoff at the 1986 World Cup that France won 4-2 in extra time.

Since then, they have faced off in seven friendlies, with France winning three and Belgium one. Two of the three draws have been in the only meetings this decade in 2013 and 2011 - both games finished goalless.


We say: France 1-1 Belgium

The atmosphere is sure to be good between two European neighbours, but Belgium won't want the game to get feisty with the clash against Wales on the horizon. Wilmots's men will hope to frustrate the French and would probably take a draw in Paris.



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