Brussels hosts a changed France on the second night of Nations League Group 1, with Zinedine Zidane reshaping his side after beginning his reign with a 1-0 win away to Turkey on Saturday. Only Mike Maignan and Maxence Lacroix remain in the starting line-up from that first match as France travel to Belgium.
The news from the club
Maignan takes the captain’s armband in the absence of Kylian Mbappé, who is unavailable after injuring his left knee while scoring in Turkey. Ousmane Dembélé is among the substitutes, while seven other players who started in Turkey also make way.
Three players are set for their first senior France appearances: Liverpool defender Jérémy Jacquet, Inter’s Andy Diouf and Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha.
Lacroix partners Jacquet in central defence, with Jacquet replacing Dayot Upamecano. Pierre Kalulu comes in at right-back for Barcelona’s Jules Koundé, while Diouf takes Adrien Truffert’s place on the left.
Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid enters the midfield in place of Rayan Cherki. He will play alongside Da Cunha and Désiré Doué, with Manu Koné and Adrien Rabiot dropping out of the side.
The new French front three is Maghnes Akliouche, Esteban Lepaul and Bradley Barcola. They replace Michael Olise, Dembélé and Mbappé.
Belgium keep their selection
Belgium make no alterations for Mark van Bommel’s second match as national-team coach. Kevin De Bruyne, now 35, again leads the home side.
He is supported in attack by Paris Saint-Germain’s Mika Godts, Milan forward Diego Moreira and Atalanta’s Charles De Ketelaere as Belgium seek continuity against Zidane’s extensively rotated visitors.
