Heavyweights France, Belgium clash in ‘unachievers’ battle

France and Belgiuml will  face off Monday in arguably the star match of the round of 16 fixtures.

France were the runner-up of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which they won in 2018 while Belgium reached the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and finished in 3rd place.

Both sides have not impressed at the Euro 2024 and limped their way to the knockout stages aided by results elsewhere.

Exiting the tournament at this stage will be cruel on either side with the array of quality in their ranks but a team will bid bye to Germany 24 hours later.

For France, Antoine Griezmann is expected to be in action for Les Blues in place of Bradley Barcola albeit the place of Ousmane Dembele if Griezmann plays is unknown.

The Euros is the only medal missing in the cabinet of star man for the French side, Kylian Mbappé and this could be an inspiration for the new Real Madrid galatico.

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Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier could remain doubts for Belgium but Dodi Lukebakio has served his ban and could replace Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard on the right.

Romelu Lukaku will lead the lines and hopes his goals will count this time.

The golden generation of the Belgian national team that stood as the number for five consecutive years on the FIFA rankings may have given way to a new side but it is difficult to call this.

However being that the match must produce a winner, we hand it to France who will edge with a slim win.

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