Belgium vs France LIVE! Nations League match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Belgium vs France - LIVE!

It is a heavyweight clash in Brussels tonight as Belgium host France in what is a pivotal Nations League encounter. Italy lead the way in Group A2 and will expect to pick up three more points against Israel this evening, leaving Belgium and France with work to do if they are to stay within touching distance.

Confidence in the Belgium camp will have been buoyed by a draw with Italy last time out as they came from two goals down, even if a red card to Lorenzo Pellegrini did turn the match on its head. Belgium sit third in the group as it stands, two points behind France and three behind the Italians.

Les Blues beat their hosts tonight a month ago and will believe they can do the double, which would be a significant step towards the quarter-finals. Kylian Mbappe is not in the squad for this international break, due to fitness concerns, but France still swept aside Israel in a 4-1 win on Thursday. Follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!

Belgium vs France latest news

• Kick-off: 7:45pm BST

• How to watch: YouTube

• Belgium team news: Trossard and Doku start

• France team news: Barcola replaces Nkunku

• Standard Sport prediction

Belgium 0-0 France

20:05 , Matt Verri

20 mins: France are INCREDIBLY lucky.

Openda clean through on goal. Poor first touch, that allows Saliba to get back but the defender slips and takes out Openda in the box.

It’s going to be a penalty... but the flag is up. Openda offside when Tielemans played him in.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:04 , Matt Verri

18 mins: At the other end, Konate loses it and France are really open.

Trossard can drive all the way into the box, gets the shot away as Saliba eventually comes over and Maignan makes the save.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:02 , Matt Verri

17 mins: Better from France, earning their first corner of the match.

Tielemans manages to flick it on in his own box, Barcola with the header at the back post but he can only find the side-netting.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:00

15 mins: Good work from Trossard on the opposite flank, wins a corner for the hosts.

Tielemans to take, deep to the back post but Maignan has space to come off his line and claim under no real pressure.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:58 , Matt Verri

13 mins: What’s the record time for a player being taken off for tactical reasons?

Doku bursts away from Digne, then gives him a nudge that sends the left-back tumbling over.

Ball whipped into the near post, Openda gets there ahead of Konate but fires just wide from a tight angle.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:57 , Matt Verri

11 mins: This has been a brilliant start from Belgium.

Doku with the one-two and Digne can get nowhere near him on that right wing.

Great low cross into the six-yard box, Openda slides in but he can’t quite make contact.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:55 , Matt Verri

9 mins: France have been very physical in these opening ten minutes or so. Tielemans the latest to be bundled over.

Tchouameni with the foul again - a booking isn’t far away for him.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:53 , Matt Verri

7 mins: Digne isn’t so fortunate.

Doku skips away from him, and Digne just trips him up. Nowhere near the ball.

Just the 83 minutes for the left-back to play on a yellow card against Doku.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:50 , Matt Verri

4 mins: Dear me, Tchouameni has absolutely launched himself into a challenge on De Ketelaere.

Belgian man is wiped out - Tchouameni does well to avoid a booking.

Belgium 0-0 France

19:47 , Matt Verri

1 min: That’s got the fans going nice and early.

Castagne flying forward on the left wing, his cross drops for Tielemans in the area and he forces Maignan into a save in the opening minute.

KICK-OFF!

19:46 , Matt Verri

Underway in this heavyweight clash!

Here we go!

19:41 , Matt Verri

Players are out onto the pitch.

We are some anthems and handshakes away from kick-off.

Not long now!

19:32 , Matt Verri

Just under 15 minutes to go until kick-off in Brussels.

That France squad does look to have the edge in terms of depth. That bench tonight - Nkunku, Olise, Thuram and Zaire-Emery to name only a few!

Tonight's Nations League schedule

19:19 , Matt Verri

Two matches down, eight to go!

How it stands...

19:11 , Matt Verri

It’s still all to play for.

Italy sit top of Group A2 on seven points, with France a point behind them. Belgium have four points, and Israel are yet to get off the mark.

Top two in the group will go through to the Nations League fixtures and it could turn into a straight showdown between France and Belgium.

Italy are hosting Israel tonight, so they will be confident of strengthening their position further.

Deschamps shuffles his pack

19:02 , Matt Verri

France do change it up from their win over Israel last week.

Digne replaces Hernandez at left back, while Kone and Guendouzi both start in midfield as Camavinga and Olise drop to the bench.

Barcola also gets the nod on the left wing, with Nkunku’s goal not enough to keep him in the side.

France team news

18:55 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Maignan, Kounde, Saliba, Konate, Digne, Tchouameni, Kone, Guendouzi, Dembele, Barcola, Kolo Muani

Subs: Areola, Samba, Bade, Clauss, Fofana, Hernandez, Camavinga, Fofana, Zaire-Emery, Nkunku, Olise, Thuram

One change for Belgium

18:48 , Matt Verri

No real surprises in that Belgium lineup.

Castagne comes in at left-back, with De Cuyper dropping to the bench, but it is otherwise the same side that started against Italy.

Doku, Openda, Trossard... you would think there is enough in that front three to trouble France.

Belgium team news

18:40 , Matt Verri

Starting XI: Casteels; Debast, Faes, Theate, Castagne; De Ketelaere, Mangala, Tielemans; Doku, Openda, Trossard

Subs: De Wolf, Vandevoordt, Bakayoko, Bornauw, De Cuyper, De Winter, Engels, Fofana, Lukebakio, Ngonge, Smets, Vranckx

Tedesco: Belgium can make history

18:31 , Matt Verri

Belgium have won a couple of friendlies over the past 20 years against France, but they otherwise have a miserable record.

Les Blues have not lost to Belgium in a competitive match since 1981... that’s a long old wait!

Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco said: "Will the poor results against France from the past discourage us? It can be a motivation. We can actually write history.”

Deschamps on France-Belgium 'rivalry'

18:18 , Matt Verri

Didier Deschamps is expecting an intense feel to tonight’s clash between two sides very familiar with each other.

"We will have a motivated Belgian team, like they always are, but even more so on Monday,” Deschamps said.

"There’s definitely a rivalry. We face each other often in competitions, but not so much in friendlies. We often meet in decisive matches. So there’s a rivalry since we are neighbours, but not animosity and no bad blood because the players know each other.

“I’m not convinced our past wins give us a psychological edge. It is history, and the players aren’t the same either."

Stage is set!

18:09 , Matt Verri

Just under two hours to go until kick-off in Brussels.

We’ll assume it will be slightly busier in the stands by then...

Last time they met...

17:59 , Matt Verri

Speaking of that match lost month... here are some highlights for you!

Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals on what was a fairly routine night for the French side.

Standard Sport prediction

17:51 , Matt Verri

Belgium did well to come from two goals down to earn a point last time out, but that recovery only happened after Italy were reduced to ten men.

France proved too good for Belgium last month and, even without Mbappe, they look to be strong enough to edge what will likely be a tight encounter.

France to win, 2-1.

France team news

17:41 , Matt Verri

France must also cope without a couple of big names.

Kylian Mbappe has been left out of the squad as his fitness is managed after an injury problem, while Antoine Griezmann has now retired from international football.

Bradley Barcola could come into the front three tonight, having impressed off the bench against Israel.

Belgium team news

17:31 , Matt Verri

Belgium will be without Romelu Lukaku tonight, while Kevin De Bruyne is also absent as he attempts to return to fitness.

The Man City midfielder asked not to be included in the squad for either this international break or next month’s, as he continues to battle injury.

Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard are set to start on the wings tonight.

How to watch Belgium vs France

17:24 , Matt Verri

TV channel and live stream: The game will be broadcast for free on ViaPlay International’s YouTube channel. Kick-off is at 7:45pm BST.

Live blog: Follow all the action LIVE right here with us!

Good evening!

17:16 , Matt Verri

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Belgium vs France!

It’s a big Nations League clash, one that will potentially play a decisive role in who makes it through to the quarter-finals next year.

We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news, ahead of kick-off at 7:45pm BST!