France manager Didier Deschamps has named three central defenders for Thursday's UEFA Nations League semi-final with Belgium.

Les Bleus and the Red Devils are vying for a spot in the Nations League final against Spain, who defeated Euro 2020 winners Italy 2-1 to advance to the showpiece event on Wednesday.

To cope with the absence of key midfield man N'Golo Kante, Deschamps has elected to field a three-man rearguard with Lucas Hernandez, Jules Kounde and Raphael Varane all protecting Hugo Lloris.

Hernandez's brother Theo Hernandez earns just his second cap for the national team on the left-hand side, while Paul Pogba is partnered by Adrien Rabiot in midfield and Benjamin Pavard starts on the right.

Antoine Griezmann occupies the hole behind Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe, with Olivier Giroud not in the squad for the Nations League Finals.

France starting lineup: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, L. Hernandez; Pavard, Pogba, Rabiot, T. Hernandez; Griezmann; Mbappe, Benzema