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Belgium vs France XIs: Starting lineups, confirmed team news and injury updates for Nations League

 (AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

France coach Didier Deschamps is likely to opt for a repeat of the 3-4-1-2 formation that worked so well in last month’s 2-0 win over Finland as they face Belgium in the Nations League semi-finals tonight.

Without the injured Kylian Mbappe that day, Antoine Griezmann and Karim Benzema both dazzled in the system which allows Griezmann to shine from a central position.

Mbappe is back for France, who also line up with brothers Lucas and Theo Hernandez in the starting XI.

They are the first siblings to feature for Les Bleus together since Patrick and Herve Revelli did it against Romania back in 1974.

“They have this family bond. This does not mean that it changes anything, but I will be dealing with two players who have this connection,” said Deschamps.

For Belgium, Chelsea’s record signing Romelu Lukaku leads the line flanked by Eden Hazard and the returning Kevin De Bruyne.

Starting line-ups:

Belgium XI: Courtois, Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen, Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku

France XI: Lloris, Kounde, Varane, Lucas Hernandez, Pavard, Rabiot, Pogba, Theo Hernandez, Griezmann, Mbappe, Benzema

Belgium squad

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 (Atlético Madrid), Charles De Ketelaere (Club Brugge), Eden Hazard (Real Madrid), Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea), Dodi Lukebakio (Wolfsburg), Leandro Trossard (Brighton)

France squad

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

Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton), Léo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernández (Bayern), Theo Hernández (AC Milan), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris), Jules Koundé (Sevilla), Benjamin Pavard (Bayern), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern), Raphaël 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 (Atlético Madrid), Anthony Martial (Man. United), Kylian Mbappé (Paris)

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