the France team will face Belgium in the round of 16

FOOTBALL – The die is cast for the France team. Second in its group at the end of the group stages of Euro 2024 in Germany, the French team necessarily kept a close eye on the results of the matches which took place this Wednesday, June 26.

And for good reason, their opponent in the round of 16 is now known. Monday July 1, at 6 p.m., the Blues of Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann will face the Belgians in the first real shock of these final stages.

By finishing behind Austria in their group, Didier Deschamps’ players had to wait to know the results of Group E, where four teams had exactly the same number of points before the matches scheduled for this Wednesday. On one side, Belgium faced Ukraine, on the other Slovakia challenged Romania. The second in this group would then be designated to face the Blues.

With today’s results, it is Belgium which finishes in second place, helped by Slovakia’s draw (1-1) against Romania, surprise leader of this group E. For its part, Ukraine is definitively eliminated from the European Cup after its goalless draw against Kevin De Bruyne’s Red Devils. Quite exceptional in the history of the Euro, the four teams in Group E finished with 4 points. Making Ukraine the first nation to leave the competition with so many points after three matches.

Euro 2021, Euro 2024, same fight

A tougher match than expected for the French, who therefore do not avoid the Belgian trap. That being said, the Blues will in any case have to show a different face during this elimination round of 16. Lacking realism in the face of the goal, the French team will also be keen to avoid further disillusionment at this stage of the competition.

Because a scenario similar to that of Euro 2021 is already looming. You just have to look at the Blues’ progress in the group stage to be convinced of this. In 2024, as in 2022, the French selection displays exactly the same results. A 1-0 victory in the first match, thanks to an own goal, followed by a draw in the second match. And if the similarities were not enough, the Blues repeated the scenario of the third match of the last Euro by ending the group stage with a new draw, with two penalties scored in the match.

As many remember, during the next round, the Blues finally collapsed against Switzerland during a penalty shootout snatched by the Swiss after a stunning scenario (3-3).

If optimism is in order after knowing its future opponent, the France team will have to achieve a flawless performance if it wishes to win Euro 2024. Its second place in group D having tipped it into the game the toughest final table of the competition. With Portugal, Spain and Germany in their sights for the following rounds…

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