Three new faces will step into the France team against Belgium on Monday night, as Zinédine Zidane makes sweeping changes for the Nations League meeting. Jérémy Jacquet, Andy Diouf and Lucas Da Cunha are all set for their first senior international appearance after being selected in a side altered heavily from the 1-0 win in Turkey.
Nine changes after Turkey victory
France arrive from a narrow success in Turkey, but Zidane has reshaped his starting side for the Belgium match. There are nine changes from the team that won 1-0, opening a rare route into the senior squad for three debutants.
- Jérémy Jacquet will make his first appearance for France.
- Andy Diouf is also due to earn his senior international debut.
- Lucas Da Cunha completes the trio of new France players.
- The match against Belgium is being played in the Nations League on Monday evening.
A rare three-player debut night
Having three players make their France debuts in the same game is an unusual moment for Les Bleus. It is the biggest group of first-time internationals selected for a single France match since 11 August 2010.
On that occasion, five players received their first minutes for the national team when France faced Norway in a friendly. Adil Rami, Aly Cissokho, Charles N’Zogbia, Guillaume Hoarau and Stéphane Ruffier all made their bows that night.
- France lost 2-1 to Norway in the August 2010 friendly.
- The Belgium fixture is the first France game since then to feature as many as three debutants at once.
- Jacquet, Diouf and Da Cunha now have the chance to begin their international careers together.
