By France and Belgium, two of Europe’s football powerhouses, are set to face off in a highly anticipated Euro 2024 Round of 16 match at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf, Germany. Both teams, having underperformed in the group stage, are looking to reignite their tournament campaigns in this crucial knockout fixture.
France, the 2022 World Cup finalists, find themselves in this challenging position after failing to top Group D. Their lackluster performance, including a draw with eliminated Poland, resulted in a second-place finish behind Austria. Les Bleus have struggled offensively, scoring only two goals in their opening three matches – one being an own goal and the other a penalty.
Despite boasting the tournament’s deepest squad, Didier Deschamps’ team has yet to hit their stride. This match against Belgium, reminiscent of their 2018 World Cup semi-final encounter, could be the catalyst France needs to jumpstart their Euro 2024 campaign.
Belgium, under Domenico Tedesco, has experienced similar disappointments. After an opening loss to Slovakia, they managed a win against Romania and a draw with Ukraine to scrape through as group runners-up. Star striker Romelu Lukaku has been inconsistent, while even the usually reliable Kevin De Bruyne has struggled to elevate the team’s performance.
The match is scheduled for Monday, July 1, with kick-off at 17:00 BST. Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg will officiate, with VAR duties assigned to Pol van Boekel of the Netherlands.
In their recent head-to-head history, France holds a slight edge with two wins to Belgium’s one in their last five meetings. Their most recent encounter, a thrilling 3-2 victory for France in the 2021 UEFA Nations League, hints at the potential drama this knockout match could produce.
Both teams’ current form reflects their tournament struggles, with France drawing two and winning one of their last three matches, while Belgium has one win, one draw, and one loss.
As these football giants collide in the Round of 16, both will be desperate to shed their group stage lethargy and showcase the world-class talent that made them pre-tournament favorites. This match promises to be a pivotal moment in Euro 2024, potentially defining the trajectory of both teams in their quest for European glory.
