France and Belgium Face Off in Knockout Clash After Group Stage Stumbles

As the European Championship enters its knockout stages, two of the tournament's favorites, France and Belgium, find themselves in an unexpected predicament. Both teams failed to secure top spots in their respective groups, setting up a head-on collision in Duesseldorf on Monday.

France's vaunted attack has been plagued by a crisis of confidence. Despite boasting world-class talent like Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema, the French have scored just two goals in their opening three matches, one of which was a penalty. Coach Didier Deschamps is facing a dilemma over whether to restore Antoine Griezmann to the lineup and pair him with Mbappe up front.

Belgium's situation is equally concerning. After limping into the next stage with a draw against Ukraine, they were subjected to a barrage of criticism from their own supporters. Captain Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his displeasure with the hostile reaction, and his attitude will set the tone for the rest of the Belgian side.

Romelu Lukaku, Belgium's record goalscorer, has yet to find his scoring touch in the tournament. His poor form is a major concern for a team that relies heavily on his goals.

Deschamps and Belgium coach Roberto Martinez have some tough decisions to make ahead of Monday's clash. Both teams will be desperate to avoid an early exit and prove that they are still contenders for the title.

The winner of the France-Belgium match will face Portugal or Slovenia in the quarter-finals. The match is scheduled to kick off at 9.30 p.m. on July 1.

Tags: #Euro2024, #France, #Belgium, #DidierDeschamps, #RobertoMartinez