Excitement is building as France and Belgium gear up for a thrilling round of 16 clash at Merkur Spiel-Arena. France, coming off a lackluster 1-1 draw with Poland, will be boosted by the return of Kylian Mbappe from injury. With Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann back in the starting lineup, France is favored to win. PSG’s Bradley Barcola is expected to start on the bench.
Belgium’s group stage performance was mixed, featuring a loss to Slovakia, a win over Romania, and a draw with Ukraine. Kevin De Bruyne and his teammates have struggled to find their rhythm in the tournament, making France a strong favorite. Sevilla’s Dodi Lukebakio returns from suspension, but Axel Witsel and Thomas Meunier are in a race against time to be fit for Monday’s match.
Prediction: France is expected to secure a 2-1 victory.
