Belgium and France will decide the second UEFA Nations League finalist on Thursday in what will be a rematch of the 2018 World Cup semifinal. Can Belgium get revenge for a 1-0 defeat suffered in Russia?
Bookmaker William Hill has the world champions as slight favorites for the match in Turin offering odds at 1.73 for France to advance into Sunday’s final while Belgium can be backed with the odds at 2.00.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 6th, 6:30 P.M. (EST)
France won the battle in St. Petersburg 1-0 through a Samuel Umtiti goal, but the head-to-head record gives a slight edge to Belgium. The Red Devils have won 30 of the previous 74 clashes and France have picked up 25 victories.
It was a major disappointment for the super-talented Belgium squad three years ago and they also suffered heartbreak at the Euros this summer, but the Nations League provides Roberto Martinez’s team another chance to win a title and we can expect to see a very motivated side on the pitch.
The Belgians are in great form ahead of the contest having won 14 of their last 17 outings and suffering just one defeat. They have Kevin De Bruyne fit again and Romelu Lukaku is back after sitting out the team’s previous game due to a suspension.
The Chelsea striker is among the Nations League’s top scorers with five goals and he’s been on fire throughout the year netting 10 goals in 11 international outings.
Lukaku should fancy his chances of continuing his scoring streak here with France having looked vulnerable at the back ever since the Euros. Switzerland put three past Les Bleus in the quarterfinals and they have managed to pick up just one clean sheet from their last six games.
Didier Deschamps will hope that a hot offense can help his side mask the defensive shortcomings. France have failed to score just five times since their big 2018 triumph and in Karim Benzema, they have the hottest forward in Europe on the squad.
The Real Madrid veteran has completely crushed it in La Liga this season recording nine goals and seven assists in eight appearances. He impressed during his comeback to the national side at the Euros with four goals in four games and Deschamps will hope to see more of the same as the team tries to get their hands on another trophy.
