Lloris already saves the Blues
Hernandez and Castagne face to face
It’s the fight (it had to be done once tonight) with Castagne on the right side of the Belgians, facing Théo Hernandez. It is the first who ultimately fails. The Blues recover the ball.
Mbappé sought by Pogba
The Manchester United midfielder saw the scorer’s call in depth, but Vertonghen is anticipating well. Pogba starts again in stride, towards Benzema, who this time surprises Denayer … with a very slight offside position.
Mbappé, the youngest at 50
With his tenure tonight, Kylian Mlbappé is now the youngest player in the history of the Blues to reach the 50 caps, two years ahead of … Karim Benzema, his partner in attack.
De Bruyne strike …
Lucas Hernandez comes to make a bulwark in front of Kevin de Bruyne, who had perfectly transplanted to open the way to the goal, at the entrance of the surface. The corner to follow gives nothing for the Red Devils.
Pavard’s fly!
The match starts very strong with offensives pushed to the end. On a center of Mbappé, it is Pavard who is the fallout and tries an acrobatic gesture … captured by Courtois.
MBAPPÉ IN SPEED!
What percussion from Mbappé, who appeared from very far to advance into the penalty area … The ball seems to spin towards the exit, but the Parisian put back in heel at the last moment. It is unfortunately for Denayer, who emerges.
AND THE LLORIS PARADE!
What a save with the left hand of Hugo Lloris, on a shot from close range from Kevin de Bruyne. It all started with a huge acceleration by Lukaku on the left side, with a badly returned cross. But the Manchester City attacking midfielder failed to conclude …
A little observation tower
We start the meeting slowly on both sides, without taking big risks. The Blues take the opportunity to heal their possession of the ball a little, clever.
Let’s go !
The players kneel before starting the match and this semi-final between Belgium and France. One more !
Entrance of the players
There is a place in the final to be picked up in a few minutes. The Belgians and the Blues come out of the tunnel, ready to listen to their anthem.
Worthy absent from the warm-up
Everton’s left side did not take part in the warm-up with his partners. He was finally preserved because of an ischial alert, but will still be present on the bench. (With LT)
Brothers in EDF, a first since the 1970s
The Hernandez brothers, titular this evening in the composition of Didier Deschamps, are not the first to become siblings in blue. In the 70s, the two Stéphanois Patrick and Hervé Revelli played together. Twice. But only during friendly matches …
Rendezvous with Spain
If Italy hosts this final phase of the Nations League, Squadra Azzurra will not be in the final of the competition after its defeat against Spain last night (2-1), the first in 38 games! Tonight’s winner will therefore face La Roja on Sunday, at 8:45 p.m., in San Siro.
The players warming up
Juventus Stadium, which will be more than half empty and a little less than half full, is slowly filling up while the Blues are warming up. Kick-off in a good half hour!
Belgium with De Bruyne and Hazard
Roberto Martinez delivered an unsurprising roster with a five-a-side defense and the De Bruyne-Lukaku-Hazard trio in attack. Carrasco will play left piston in the absence of Thorgan Hazard.
The composition of Belgium:
Courtois – Aldeweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen – Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco – De Bruyene, Lukaku, E.Hazard
Only 15,000 people out of the 20,000 authorized
Small point concerning the public this evening. In Italy, the number of supporters allowed in the stadium is 50%, so 20,000 places were available out of the 40,000 at Juventus Stadium. However, only 15,000 people will be present for this semi-final, including 2,200 French people … and a little less than 1,900 Belgians!
JR
The composition of the Blues with the Hernandez brothers
As announced on Wednesday by RMC Sport, Didier Deschamps opted for a three-way defense to face Belgium in the semi-final of the League of Nations (8:45 p.m.). Jules Koundé and Lucas Hernandez are aligned alongside Raphaël Varane.
Théo Hernandez is also aligned from the start, just like the Griezmann-Mbappé-Benzema trio.
The composition of the Blues:
Lloris – Koundé, Varane, L. Hernandez – Pavard, Rabiot, Pogba, T. Hernandez – Griezmann – Benzema, Mbappé
France-Belgium: the Blues were not outclassed in 2018, the proof in stats
After their defeat in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup (1-0), three and a half years ago, the players of Belgium felt they were better than those of the France team. But the statistics of this historic match, settled by a head of Samuel Umtiti, draw up a much more nuanced finding. No offense to Thibaut Courtois.
What’s in it to win the tournament?
France and Belgium face each other on Thursday evening for a place in the final of the League of Nations against Spain, the scorer of Italy. A victory for the Blues could have a significant impact on the finances of the French Football Federation, but also on the FIFA ranking.
The France-Belgium rivalry in ten milestones
France and Belgium face each other for the 75th time this Thursday (8:45 p.m.) in the semifinals of the League of Nations. A long common history and an exacerbated rivalry in recent years after the 2018 World Cup.
“Freedom. Equality. Rivalry”: Belgium launches the shock
“Liberty. Equality. Rivalry.” On its social networks, Belgium revisits the motto of France in its own way a few hours from the clash between the two nations in the semifinals of the League of Nations. We are waiting for the response from the Blues now.
Deschamps’ response after Mbappé’s comments about his discomfort
“Mbappé is happy to be there,” said Didier Deschamps on Wednesday, who did not want to dwell on Kylian Mbappé’s media comments about his spleen in the France team. “The most important thing is that I saw it and that we discuss. The speech that I have internally, directly with the players, is the most important”, he hammered Wednesday, at Juventus Stadium of Turin, where the match against the Belgians will take place.
The probable composition of the Blues, with the Hernandez brothers
Didier Deschamps will demonstrate insisting with the 3-4-3. It is in this system, judged during the previous international break, that the France team should start against Belgium, Thursday evening for the semi-final of the League of Nations in Turin (8:45 p.m.). In any case, this is how the Blues worked during the last training session.
How was the rivalry between the two neighbors born?
The France team will face Belgium this Thursday in Turin (8:45 p.m.), in the last four of the League of Nations. For the first time since the head of Samuel Umtiti in the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup. Against a backdrop of revenge and growing animosity between the Blues and the Red Devils.
Hello everyone !
The Blues of Didier Deschamps meet this Thursday evening (8:45 p.m.) in Turin with revengeful Belgians, three years after the French victory in the semi-final of the 2018 World Cup. The winner of this duel will face Spain in the final of the League of nations.