France coach Zinedine Zidane is set to make changes to his team for the France vs Belgium Nations League clash in Brussels on Monday after captain Kylian Mbappe suffered an injury.
France opened their Nations League campaign with a 1-0 victory over Turkey on Friday, with Mbappe scoring the winning goal before being forced off. The Real Madrid forward has since returned to his club.
The match against Belgium will be Zidane’s second game in charge of France after taking over from Didier Deschamps.
Zidane Plans France Changes
Zidane confirmed that France will rotate the team against Belgium, although he did not reveal how many changes he will make.
The former Real Madrid coach explained that France face four matches during a short international window, making rotation necessary because of the limited recovery time and travel between games.
“There will definitely be changes,” Zidane said at his pre-match press conference, while leaving the exact number of changes until matchday.
France will host Italy in Paris on Friday before facing Belgium again at the Stade de France on October 5.
Zidane said his immediate priority is getting to know his players and helping them understand his ideas, but he also stressed that winning remains important.
Mbappe Absence Changes France Attack
Mbappe’s injury is the biggest selection issue facing Zidane ahead of the France vs Belgium encounter.
The France captain scored the winner against Turkey but left the game after being injured. His return to Real Madrid means Zidane will have to find another attacking option for the trip to Brussels.
Mbappe had been confirmed as France captain when Zidane announced his first squad earlier this month. The pair had previously spoken positively about working together, making his absence an early setback for the new coach.
France will therefore have to adjust their attacking approach against a Belgium side that began its Nations League campaign with an impressive result.
Belgium Enter Match After Italy Win
Belgium will provide a difficult test for Zidane’s team after defeating Italy 2-0 in Rome in their opening Group A1 match.
New Belgium coach Mark van Bommel also began his tenure with a victory. His team impressed in Italy and will now look to continue that momentum at home against France.
Zidane acknowledged the quality within the Belgian squad and expects a difficult match.
He also praised the opportunity for his players to experience major international fixtures, telling them to enjoy representing France while they have the chance.
UEFA lists Belgium vs France among the standout matches of the opening Nations League round, with both nations entering a new era under new coaches.
Zidane Faces Early Test With France
The France vs Belgium match represents an important early test for Zidane as he begins building his team.
His first match ended with a narrow win over Turkey, but Belgium offer a different challenge after their strong performance in Rome.
With Mbappe unavailable and rotation expected, Zidane will have to make adjustments while continuing to establish his tactical ideas.
France and Belgium will meet again in Paris on October 5, giving the two sides another opportunity to assess each other during the Nations League campaign.
For now, Zidane’s first task is to guide France through a demanding trip to Brussels and maintain their winning start under their new coach.