Nations League: Upamecano, De Bruyne and Tielemans suspended for France vs Belgium

Four days after losing 1-0 to France, Belgium dismantled Turkey 3-0 on Friday night at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne. Kevin De Bruyne scored twice (10th minute, 59th), Dody Lukebakio hit the post and Romelu Lukaku, on as a substitute, added the third in the 76th. At the same time, Italy held France to a 1-1 draw at the Stade de France (Olise 55th, Bastoni 68th), in Zidane’s first match on that ground.

The evening proved expensive for both squads. Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans were each booked against Turkey, having already been cautioned in the reverse fixture against France: two yellow cards in the competition, an automatic ban for the fourth round of games. On the French side, Dayot Upamecano was sent off against Italy. As So Foot puts it, France “will not be able to count on Dayot Upamecano, suspended after the red card he received against Italy on Friday night”.

Van Bommel without his midfield

Mark van Bommel loses both his holding midfielder, Youri Tielemans, and his playmaker, Kevin De Bruyne, who scored twice on Friday. Hans Vanaken and Charles De Ketelaere, both starters against Turkey, remain to run the Belgian game. Zidane must rebuild his central defence: Upamecano had lined up alongside Jacquet against Italy.

Odds taken before the bans

Monday’s prices predate the suspensions. On Friday evening France traded at 1.55 with 10BET, the draw at 4.55 with Betano and a Belgian win at 5.45 with 1xbet. A Belgium without De Bruyne and Tielemans is unlikely to see those odds shorten before kick-off on Monday evening at the Stade de France.