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16:00
Merkur Spielarena

FRA

France

FRA
BEL

BEL

Belgium

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Openda threat

Loïs Openda had a sensational first season in Germany, scoring 24 Bundesliga goals and grabbing seven assists in 34 top-flight appearances for RB Leipzig. Les Bleus have been warned!
© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

Line-ups

So Deschamps does go with the midfield diamond and recalls Griezmann, while former Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco springs a surprise as RB Leipzig's Loïs Openda starts up front with Lukaku for the first time in the tournament.
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Belgium team

Casteels - Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate - De Bruyne (c), Onana, Carrasco - Openda, Lukaku, Doku
© IMAGO/Peter De Voecht
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France team

Maignan - Koundé, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez - Kanté, Tchouaméni, Rabiot - Griezmann - Thuram, Mbappé (cap.).
© Michael Regan - UEFA

Another thriller?

Games between these two have been dramatic in recent years. France came from 2-0 down to defeat Belgium 3-2 in the 2021 Nations League with Théo Hernández - younger brother of former Bayern man Lucas - getting a 90th-minute winner. Belgium's 4-3 win at the Stade de France in June 2015 was another gripping contest (see above)

History

These two have met 75 times with Belgium having the edge on 30 wins to France's 26. But Les Bleus have lost just one and won three of the duo's six most-recent meetings.
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Clauss back in Germany too

Those who really follow the German game will also know Jonathan Clauss. He helped Arminia Bielefeld to promotion to the Bundesliga before leaving for Lens in 2020. Since, he has become an established international in a fairytale rise to the top of the game for the 31-year-old Marseille defender.
© via www.imago-images.de/imago images / Revierfoto
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Les Bleus' Bundesliga pedigree

Along with Dembélé in the France squad, there's current Bayern men Kingsley Coman and Dayot Upamecano. Kolo Muani (ex-Frankfurt) and Pavard (ex-Bayern) are also well known to German football fans.
© IMAGO/Eduard Martin
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Dembélé in Dortmund

Ousmane Dembélé played for Dortmund in the 2016/17 season, scoring six times and tallying 12 assists in a stellar campaign. He also scored in the final as BVB won the DFB Cup shortly before he left for Barcelona.
© 2016 Getty Images

France to go with a diamond?

France coach Didier Deschamps is set to play Mbappé and Thuram up front with Griezmann behind at the tip of a midfield diamond in a major tactical switch. It means former Dortmund man Ousmane Dembélé is set to miss out.

Welcome!

Bonjour and welcome to our live coverage of the EURO 2024 Round of 16 game between France and Belgium in Düsseldorf!