France 0-0 Belgium LIVE SCORE – Euro 2024: Last-16 clash on NOW as Mbappe and Griezmann START – latest updates

France 0-0 Belgium

7. Belgium triple up on Thuram as he tries to weave his way to the byline on the right.

In the end, Theate grows tired of the cat-and-mouse game by the corner flag and flattens his opponent with a shoulder barge.

France 0-0 Belgium

5. A steady start from the French in possession.

Griezmann is floating about between the lines as Les Bleus look for space to exploit.

France 0-0 Belgium

3. On the volley, Rabiot arrows an early half-chance wide of the target.

The early observation is that Belgium are operating with three centre-back while Castagne and Carrasco slot in as wing-backs.

Kick-off – France v Belgium

1. It’s on! Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg blows his whistle, and it’s France that get this Last 16 tie underway.

The French are back in their changed strip of white shirts with blue pinstripes while the Belgians wear their dark red tops and black shorts.

Here come the two teams!

A capacity crowd at the Dusseldorf Arena welcome the players of France and Belgium to the pitch.

The 47,000 inside here include at least 8,000 from France, and one of those is a certain Paul Pogba.

The former Manchester United man watches the fans morph into a French Tricolore at one end of the stadium, while a red wall has been assembled at the other.

After the anthems, two of the most well-known faces in the game greet each other in the centre-circle for the coin toss, but only one of Kylian Mbappe and Kevin De Bruyne can lead their side into the last eight.

Kick-off comes next.

Wasteful outfits’ need to fire

This evening’s encounter in Dusseldorf pits together two of Euro 2024’s most wasteful teams in front of goal.

During the group stage, only Serbia (3.8%) had a poorer shot conversion rate than both Belgium and France (both 4.2% – 2 goals from 48 shots).

Indeed, the Red Devils have scored just three goals in six games across the last two major tournaments, scoring from just 3.6% of their shots (3/83) and underperforming their expected goals by 6.15 (3 goals from 9.15 xG).

Kante king of the midfield

Many would have been forgiven for thinking N’Golo Kante’s international career was over after two years out of the fold.

But the experienced midfielder was recalled by Didier Deschamps for this summer’s tournament, and he has not let his country down.

During the group stage, Kante ranked top among his French teammates for chances created (7), tackles (7) and pressures applied (216), while he was joint-top for interceptions (3) and line-breaking passes under pressure (15).

The 33-year-old has never ended on the losing side for France in a major tournament match (P18 W12 D6).

Kevin key to unlocking French defence

During the group stage of this European Championship, Belgium were the team with the highest share of their line-breaking passes being those that broke the opposition’s defensive line (18%).

And that’s hardly a surprise when you have the magnificent Kevin De Bruyne pulling the strings.

Indeed, the Belgium captain broke the opponent’s defensive line on more occasions than any other midfielder during the groups (11).

Masked man eyeing milestones

After coming through 90 minutes against Poland on Tuesday, France captain Kylian Mbappe has been deemed fit enough to start in the Round of 16 today.

The man in the mask netted his first ever goal at a European Championship from the penalty spot against the Poles, and now stands on the brink of some major milestones.

That spotkick to his tally to 13 at major international tournaments with only the great Michel Platini (14 in 19 games) ever having scored more for France at the World Cup and Euros.

Mbappe is also only two goals away from becoming the third French player to net 50 goals in all competitions after Olivier Giroud (57) and Thierry Henry (51).

Belgium bring in Carrasco and Openda

Domenico Tedesco also makes two changes to his team to face France.

The Belgium head coach brings in Yannick Carrasco and Lois Openda in place of – surprisingly – Youri Tielemans, and – less surprisingly – Leandro Trossard.

It means that Dodi Lukebakio, available after suspension, is only named among the substitutes.

There is some discussion as to whether the Belgians line-up with a back four, or a back three that sees Timothy Castagne and Carrrasco operate as wing-backs.

Belgium (4-3-3): 1 Casteels; 21 Castagne, 4 Faes, 5 Vertonghen, 3 Theate; 7 De Bruyne, 24 Onana, 11 Carrasco; 20 Openda, 10 Lukaku, 22 Doku

Subs: 12 Kaminski, 13 Sels, 2 Debast, 6 Witsel, 8 Tielemans, 9 Trossard, 14 Lukebakio, 16 Vranckx, 17 De Ketelaere, 18 Mangala, 19 Bakayoko, 23 Vermeeren, 25 De Cuyper

Griezmann and Thuram back for Bleus

Didier Deschamps makes two changes to his French side after a disappointing draw with Poland in the final group game.

The head coach recalls Antoine Griezmann and Marcus Thuram to his attack as he shuffles his system to go with two up top; Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola drop to the bench.

Thuram will play alongside masked captain Kylian Mbappe with Griezmann in behind, ahead of a midfield three marshalled by the magnificent N’Golo Kante.

France (4-3-1-2): 16 Maignan; 5 Kounde, 4 Upamecano, 17 Saliba, 22 Hernandez; 13 Kante, 8 Tchouameni, 14 Rabiot; 7 Griezmann; 15 Thuram, 10 Mbappe

Subs: 1 Samba, 23 Areola, 2 Pavard, 3 Mendy, 6 Camavinga, 9 Giroud, 11 Dembele, 12 Kolo Muani, 18 Zaire-Emery, 19 Fofana, 20 Coman, 21 Clauss, 24 Konate, 25 Barcola

Belgium bringing the party

We’re still more than an hour from kick-off in Dusseldorf, but the Belgian supporters have been in the mood since this morning.

These scenes from a local fan park earlier today shows just how pumped up and ready to party that the Red Devils masses are.

Either that or their side-to-side movement is a tribute to England’s style of play at this tournament.

Les Bleus a shade of odds-on

France have failed to convince at Euro 2024 so far, but the bookies are banking on class being permanent despite the questionable form; as a result, Les Bleus are the slightest touch of odds-on while the Belgians can be backed at more than 3/1.

• France win 19/20
• Draw 23/10
• Belgium win 16/5

To reach quarter-finals:

• France to qualify 2/5
• Belgium to qualify 7/4

Odds from William Hill correct at time of post publication.

Neighbours ready to renew rivalry

This teatime’s clash will be the 76th encounter between France and Belgium in all competitions.

It means the Red Devils are the French’s most frequent opponent of all time, having faced them nearly twice as much as any other team – Italy and Switzerland are next in line with 39 fixtures each.

Meanwhile, Belgium have only faced the Netherlands (129) on more occasions than the French.

Les Bleus have won all four of their previous matches against Belgium at major tournaments, scoring 13 goals and conceding only three in the process.

Their only previous meeting at a European Championship was 40 years ago in 1984 – the French won 5-0 in the group stage courtesy of a Michel Platini hat-trick and goals from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez on their way to winning their first major trophy.

Good afternoon from Dusseldorf

Welcome to live SunSport coverage of France against Belgium in the Last 16 at Euro 2024.

After the Sunday stress of England and the last-night swagger of Spain, it’s now time for the French and Belgians to show their European Championship credentials.

Neither Les Bleus or the Red Devils clicked in the group stages, both faltering in front of goal to finish second behind unfancied opponents.

Didier Deschamps’ side are yet to score from open play with superstar Kylian Mbappe confined to playing in a face mask after breaking his nose in his country’s opening game.

Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium, meanwhile, blanked in two of their three group games with record scorer Romelu Lukaku troubling the linesmen and VAR officials more often than opposing goalkeepers.

Both nations will be determined to click into life today, but only one can make it through to the quater-finals.

It’s a 5pm kick-off at the Dusseldorf Arena, and news of the starting line-ups will be with us shortly.