France look to bounce back against Belgium and end camp on a high

Three days after drawing 1-1 with Italy at the Stade de France, France host Belgium on Monday, hoping to end their first camp under Zinédine Zidane on a positive note. The French coach faces Belgium after his first setback in charge of the national team. A week earlier, France had beaten Belgium 1-0 in Brussels. This fourth Nations League match also offers a chance to move closer to qualification for the quarter-finals.

There is a points incentive too: three more would put France, top of Group 1, in an ideal position ahead of the final two matches, scheduled for November. On the eve of the game, Zidane was highly active during the 15-minute training session open to the media. Belgian international Axel Witsel also appeared as a guest on Bartoli Time.

Kylian Mbappé may have sent a musical message to his critics in a video posted to his Instagram account on Sunday. For France, Jules Koundé is in good physical shape and says his reduced playing time at FC Barcelona since the restart is down to his performances last season. Against Belgium, France have the opportunity to turn their response into a result and strengthen their prospects of qualifying.