France play Belgium at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels tonight, kick-off 20:45 CEST, without their captain. Kylian Mbappé scored the only goal of Zinedine Zidane's first match in charge, the 1-0 win in Türkiye on Friday, and hurt his left knee as he did so. He is back at Real Madrid, whose diagnosis is covered in our report on the injury. Neither the club nor the French federation has given a return date.

Zidane promised changes at his press conference on Sunday. “There will definitely be changes. How many, you will see tomorrow,” he said, adding that four matches in a short space, with the trip from Türkiye in between, meant France would rotate.

Dembélé may be rested

Asked about the armband, Zidane said Ousmane Dembélé, his vice-captain, already does that job. After Sunday's final session, though, L'Équipe and RMC reported that Dembélé may start on the bench, with Désiré Doué tried as a false nine between Michael Olise and Liverpool's Bradley Barcola. L'Équipe also expects Eduardo Camavinga to replace Manu Koné, who started in Türkiye. Ibrahima Konaté had already left the squad with a collateral ligament injury to his right leg, and Leny Yoro took his place.

A new coach, and a win in Rome

Belgium have a new coach too. The Royal Belgian FA appointed Mark van Bommel from 15 August, on a contract through Euro 2028, after Rudi Garcia left following the World Cup quarter-final defeat by Spain. His first match was Friday's 2-0 win over Italy in Rome, Belgium's first victory over Italy in six meetings. Mika Godts, the Paris Saint-Germain winger, opened the scoring in the first half from Kevin De Bruyne's through ball, and the substitute Dodi Lukébakio added the second.

Van Bommel said on Sunday that Leandro Trossard and Mike Penders are not fit, and that he otherwise has the squad that won in Rome. Jérémy Doku and Amadou Onana are injured, and Thibaut Courtois has chosen to miss the whole Nations League campaign. Senne Lammens kept goal in Rome and made six saves.

“I'm very pleased right now. Training is going well, the level is high and the players are enjoying it,” van Bommel said, speaking in Dutch. He wants Belgium to dominate the way they did in the first half against Italy.

Zidane knows the stadium: he scored the extra-time penalty that beat Portugal there in the Euro 2000 semi-final. He knows van Bommel too. On Sunday he praised the character and personality the Dutchman showed as a player, and joked about the difference between them. His answer, given in French, is translated below.

We didn't quite have the same style. He was usually the one charging into me and giving me little knocks, but I liked his style.

Zinedine Zidane, pre-match press conference, Sunday

Three points each, and a long record

Both sides have three points from one game. Türkiye and Italy, who meet at the same time tonight, have none. France host Italy on 2 October and Belgium again on 5 October, both at the Stade de France.

France have played Belgium more than any other nation, 78 times, and Belgium still lead the record with 30 wins to France's 29, with 19 draws. France have won the last five meetings, including both in the 2024 Nations League: 2-0 in September, then 2-1 in Brussels in October.