World Cup holders France take on FIFA’s top-ranked side Belgium in the UEFA Nations League semi-finals tonight.

Didier Deschamps’ world champions reached the final four of the competition after winning five and drawing one of their Group A3 fixtures.

Deschamps will be hoping for a big victory over Belgium

For Belgium, Roberto Martinez’s side also won five of their six group matches with their one defeat coming against England at Wembley in a 2-1 loss.

The two nations will now face off for a spot in the Nations League final where the winner will take on Spain following their win over Italy last night.

Belgium v France: Date and time
The UEFA Nations League clash is due to take place on Thursday, October 7.

It will take place at the Juventus Stadium in Turin, Italy and will kick off at 7.45pm UK time.

It will be a one-legged affair with the winner being decided on the night.
 

Roberto Martinez’s Belgium side are the No.1 ranked team in world football

Belgium v France: Squads

Belgium

Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Wolfsburg), Thibaut Courtois (Real Madrid), Simon Mignolet (Club Brugge)

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (al-Duhail), Dedryck Boyata (Hertha Berlin), Timothy Castagne (Leicester), Jason Denayer (Lyon), Thomas Meunier (Dortmund), Jan Vertonghen (Benfica)

Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (Man. City), Leander Dendoncker (Wolves), Thorgan Hazard (Dortmund), Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge), Axel Witsel (Dortmund)

Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Beşiktaş), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Charles De Ketelaere (Club Brugge), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Dodi Lukebakio (Wolfsburg), Leandro Trossard (Brighton)

Romelu Lukaku will be looking to find the net against Belgium

France

Goalkeepers: Benoit Costil (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan)

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris), Jules Kounde (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern), Raphael Varane (Man. United)

Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Paul Pogba (Man. United), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Monaco), Jordan Veretout (Roma)

Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid), Moussa Diaby (Leverkusen), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Anthony Martial (Man. United), Kylian Mbappe (Paris)

Pogba helped France win the 2018 World Cup under Deschamps

Belgium v France: What’s been said

Belgium head coach, Roberto Martinez said: “Hans Vanaken is probably in the best form of his career.

“[Charles] De Ketelaere is profiting from the absences of [Jérémy] Doku and [Dries] Mertens: this is a great opportunity for him.

“He deserves this selection. [Christian] Benteke is unlucky that I can only select 20 outfield players. With Michy [Batshuayi], Romelu [Lukaku], Dodi [Lukebakio] and Charles [De Ketelaere], I have plenty of options up front. Christian has done nothing wrong and will continue to play a role in the future.”

France head coach Didier Deschamps said: “There is a title at stake; we have a semi-final to play against one of the best teams in the world.

“With Italy and Spain on the other side, there are four of us fighting for this title.

“We did everything to qualify for this final phase in a very tough group. We want to get this title.

“Before there were two titles: UEFA EURO and the FIFA World Cup. Now there is the Nations League. This is our goal.

Source: Talk Sport