Belgium seek to end France hoodoo on Nations League matchday 2 | OneFootball

Belgium target an end to their long losing run against France on Monday in Nations League matchday 2. According to Le Progres, the Red Devils are opening a new chapter under Mark van Bommel and want a reset against their neighbours.

The sequence stretches eight years and totals five defeats, including eliminations at the 2018 World Cup, the 2021 Nations League and Euro 2024. It is an unusual reversal, Belgium once inflicted a similar run on France in the 1960s, which is little consolation now.

Full-back Timothy Castagne said they would like to win this time and felt the 1-2 home loss on 14 October 2024 should have been handled better. He added that with a new system and a new coach they want to build on a positive start.

Van Bommel, who has replaced Rudi Garcia as head coach, inherited a side that pushed to the World Cup quarter-finals, then fell to Spain, the eventual champions. Looking forward without disowning the past, he is refreshing a group that still includes Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku but is without Thibaut Courtois and Jérémy Doku.

Friday’s 2-0 win over Italy brought a gust of freshness, with Mika Godts and former Strasbourg winger Diego Moreira starting up front. Several players, like the two wide men, do not carry the same baggage against France, and Castagne warned dominance or high pressing could be difficult, so intensity in every action will be vital.

Belgium want to sting their visitors and make King Baudouin a cauldron again, having lost only three of their last 50 home matches.

Source: Le Progres

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”