Belgium vs France - LIVE!

France survived a nervy conclusion after being reduced to ten men as they held on for a 2-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League. Aurelien Tchouameni was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Youri Tielemans with 15 minutes remaining, giving Belgium fresh hope of turning the match around on home soil.

But Les Blues held on, Randal Kolo Muani’s brace proving decisive as Didier Deschamps’ side took a major step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals. Belgium, who would have moved above France and into second in A2 with victory, will feel hugely frustrated that they came away from the clash in Brussels empty-handed.

Having made a superb start to the match, Youri Tielemans blazed a first-half penalty over the bar, and Kolo Muani then made that miss even more painful, converting a spot-kick of his own after Wout Faes had handled in the box. Lois Openda equalised late in the first-half, that goal initially ruled out for offside before being awarded following a lengthy VAR check. Kolo Muani restored the lead just after the hour mark, his header squirming under Koen Casteels, and it proved to be the winner, with Belgium unable to mount a late charge even with the extra man.

Belgium vs France latest news

• RED CARD! Tchouameni off for France

• GOAL! Kolo Muani restores lead

• GOAL! Openda levels before half-time

• GOAL! Kolo Muani dispatches spot-kick

• MISSED! Tielemans blasts penalty over

FT: Belgium 1-2 France

21:43 , Matt Verri

France hold on!

Down to ten men for the final 15 minutes, but they secure all three points in Brussels.

They have taken a big step towards the quarter-finals.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:39 , Matt Verri

90+2 mins: Doku gets away from Kounde, low ball into the box is sliced behind for a corner.

Again it’s taken short, pass is slid through to Trossard and he has space. But he can only clip it straight into Maignan’s arms.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:38 , Matt Verri

90 mins: More like it. Openda with the effort, brilliantly blocked by Kounde.

Belgium take the corner short, before De Cuyper then tries his luck with a wild effort from miles out.

All eyes on the fourth official... only five minutes!

Belgium 1-2 France

21:35 , Matt Verri

87 mins: Belgium haven’t really created anything since the red card, France are looking comfortable.

Every chance we get a big chunk of stoppage-time, though...

Belgium 1-2 France

21:31 , Matt Verri

83 mins: France win a corner of their own, Digne to take.

Saliba stays back on the halfway line and just as well - Doku was briefly threatening to break.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:29 , Matt Verri

81 mins: Belgium corner, it really is one-way traffic.

Vranckx with a shot from the edge of the area, miles over the bar. That will kill another minute a so.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:26 , Matt Verri

79 mins: France are getting themselves into an almighty mess.

Maignan comes charging off his line for no apparent reasons, clatters into De Cuyper.

Yellow card for the goalkeeper, France are all over the place at the back.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:25 , Matt Verri

78 mins: Trossard standing over this free-kick. Central, 20 yards out.

Over the wall but never troubling Maignan, comfortably saved.

RED CARD!

21:23 , Matt Verri

75 mins: Well then!

Tielemans is clean through on goal, brought down by Tchouameni just outside the box.

It’s a second yellow card for the midfielder... France down to ten.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:21 , Matt Verri

73 mins: That’s... not great from Digne.

Bundles his way through the challenges, into a good position on the edge of the box.

Should pick out Kolo Muani, instead blasts a shot high and wide.

Two France changes. Camavinga and Nkunku on for Guendouzi and Barcola.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:17 , Matt Verri

69 mins: Tielemans barged into Guendouzi, who is only too happy to go over and take the free-kick.

Came after Doku skipped away from Digne yet again, but Saliba dealt with the low ball in.

Belgium 1-2 France

21:12 , Matt Verri

65 mins: Belgium pushing for an immediate response.

Trossard’s effort is blocked, before Debast hammers a brilliant strike at goal from 25 yards out. Maignan down well to save.

GOAL! Belgium 1-2 France | Randal Kolo Muani 62'

21:10 , Matt Verri

This one counts!

France do retake the lead. Cross whipped in by Digne, Kolo Muani gets across Faes and his header squirms in.

Not great goalkeeping from Casteels. At all.

Belgium 1-1 France

21:08 , Matt Verri

60 mins: VAR check goes on for an age, eventually it’s confirmed. No goal.

We’ve got 30 minutes to go and it’s still right in the balance. Neither team particularly on top.

GOO.... NO!

21:06 , Matt Verri

58 mins: Kone has one shot blocked and then fires in the rebound, low past Casteels.

But just as he wheels away in celebration, the referee blows his whistle.

Think he’s said there was a handball in the build-up. Ball bounced up off Kolo Muani.

Belgium 1-1 France

21:04 , Matt Verri

56 mins: De Ketelaere drags back Dembele, to the extend he rips the arm of his shirt.

Probably a decent sign that he shouldn’t bother complaining about the yellow card that follows.

That’s now seven bookings in the match.

Belgium 1-1 France

21:03 , Matt Verri

55 mins: Think the assistants might have got every offside call wrong so far tonight.

Tielemans with a great run in behind, Maignan smothers his effort from close range.

Offside flag is up - Tielemans was on by a couple of yards.

Belgium 1-1 France

21:01 , Matt Verri

53 mins: Faes now shown a yellow card.

Fairly strong argument he should therefore be off - somehow avoided a booking for his handball to give away the penalty in the first-half.

Belgium 1-1 France

20:59 , Matt Verri

51 mins: Utter shambles from Kounde. Decides to take it upon himself to declare the ball has gone out, picks it up.... handball.

Free-kick for Belgium on the touchline. Thankfully for Kounde, it leads to nothing.

In fact France break, Dembele runs near enough the length of the pitch before curling an effort into the side-netting!

Belgium 1-1 France

20:56 , Matt Verri

48 mins: Visitors straight on the front foot from the restart.

Belgium just about hack away a corner, before Kounde tries his luck from 30 yards out. Catches it nicely, but always going over.

Back underway!

20:53 , Matt Verri

Up and running in the second-half!

First-half stats...

20:43 , Matt Verri

It’s been an entertaining watch so far.

Nine shots for the hosts, seven from France and three on target for both sides.

France already have four players on a booking - Digne, Konate, Saliba and Tchouameni. Need to be very careful.

HT: Belgium 1-1 France

20:37 , Matt Verri

There was another minute or so of the half, but there is the whistle.

Belgium deservedly get themselves back on terms with France, reward for their strong start to the match.

GOAL! Belgium 1-1 France | Lois Openda 45+4'

20:35 , Matt Verri

Goal given!

Saliba was playing Openda onside and the striker has headed Belgium level with near enough the final touch of the half.

GOOO... OFFSIDE!

20:34 , Matt Verri

Belgium are denied.

Openda with the header past Maignan, but the flag is up.

Hold up... replays suggest this will be given.

Belgium 0-1 France

20:33 , Matt Verri

45+2 mins: Four minutes added on, Belgium starting to threaten again.

Openda is getting into plenty of good positions in the France box, this time he tries to pick out Tielemans in the middle.

Any sort of contact with the header and it’s probably a goal, but Tielemans nods at thin air.

Belgium 0-1 France

20:30 , Matt Verri

44 mins: Doku drifts over to the other flank and he has some success, over a great one-two with Castagne.

Ball fizzed across the face of goal, Openda can’t catch up with it.

Belgium 0-1 France

20:26 , Matt Verri

41 mins: After running him ragged in the first 15 minutes, Doku hasn’t really had another chance to take Digne on.

France dominating the ball now, firmly in control of this match.

Belgium 0-1 France

20:23 , Matt Verri

38 mins: Superb from Barcola, bouncing off the challenges and leading the France counter.

Slowed down a bit, and then Guendouzi pops up on the left wing. Not really what you want, as he then passes it back to the halfway line.

GOAL! Belgium 0-1 France | Randal Kolo Muani 35'

20:21 , Matt Verri

Can Kolo Muani show Tielemans how it’s done?

Yes he can! Sends Casteels the wrong way and France have a lead they don’t particularly deserve.

PENALTY FRANCE!

20:19 , Matt Verri

And now a spot-kick at the other end!

Faes was lying on the ground, Barcola tried to dribble away from him and the defender has stuck out an elbow to halt him.

VAR won’t be overturning that.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:18 , Matt Verri

32 mins: France have definitely enjoyed more control in this match since Tielemans sent his penalty into next year.

Dembele with a great ball into the box, Faes gets it away with a header but France are straight back on the attack.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:15 , Matt Verri

29 mins: We’re not going to finish 11 vs 11 at this rate.

Mangala the latest player to be shown a yellow card, tripping up Kolo Muani as he tried to break.

That’s four yellows in 29 minutes.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:13 , Matt Verri

28 mins: Openda played in behind, first touch takes him past Konate and he gets away the shot from a tight angle. Turned behind.

France deal with it well, a few groans as Belgium end up all the way back with the goalkeeper seconds later.

Belgium 0-0 France

20:11 , Matt Verri

25 mins: France straight on the attack after that Belgium miss.

Barcola with a nice run, works space for the shot and it’s a decent save to deny him.

MISSED!

20:09 , Matt Verri

Just a yellow card for Saliba, despite some Belgium complaints.

Tielemans steps up to the spot... AND MISSES!

It’s dreadful, blasted high over the bar. Maignan went the right way but he wasn’t needed.

PENALTY BELGIUM!

20:07 , Matt Verri

21 mins: Long VAR check - the offside must be close. If it is onside, it’s the clearest penalty you’ll ever see.

And it is given!

Openda onside and it’s a penalty for the hosts.

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!