France vs Belgium facts

The Düsseldorf Arena is the venue for a heavyweight contest in the UEFA EURO 2024 round of 16 as two-time champions France take on Belgium.

The neighbours have met in a number of high-profile contests over the years, most recently in the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Nations League in 2021 – both won by France on their way to taking the trophy.

France come into this tie as Group D runners-up, a 1-0 opening win against Austria preceding draws against the Netherlands (0-0) and Poland (1-1) that allowed the Austrians to overtake them at the top of the table.

Belgium, meanwhile, recovered from an unexpected 1-0 defeat by Slovakia on Matchday 1 to beat Romania 2-0, and progressed in second place in Group E by virtue of a goalless draw against Ukraine in their final fixture, with all four teams in the section finishing on four points – a EURO first.

The winners of this tie play Portugal or Slovenia in the quarter-finals in Hamburg on 5 July.

Previous meetings

Matches 75
France wins 26
Belgium wins 30
Draws 19
France goals 131
Belgium goals 162

The most recent of the sides' 75 fixtures proved to be among the most thrilling, France fighting back from a two-goal half-time deficit in the Nations League semi-final on 7 October 2021. Strikes from Yannick Carrasco (37) and Romelu Lukaku (40) had seemingly put Roberto Martínez's Belgium on course for victory at the Juventus Stadium but Karim Benzema (62) and a Kylian Mbappé penalty (69) brought France back on terms and set the scene for Théo Hernández to score a 90th-minute winner with his first international goal.

Didier Deschamps' side had also defeated Belgium 1-0 in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, Samuel Umtiti scoring the only goal six minutes into the second half in Saint Petersburg on 10 July 2018.

A 4-3 friendly win at the Stade de France on 7 June 2015 is Belgium's only victory in their last six games against their neighbours (D2 L3) – and one of only two in the last 13 meetings between the teams (D4 L7).

Before that 2018 World Cup semi-final, the sides' previous competitive contest had come in the 1986 World Cup, France prevailing 4-2 after extra time in the third-place play-off.

Les Bleus recorded their biggest EURO victory at Belgium's expense, a 5-0 win in Nantes in the group stage of their victorious 1984 campaign with Michel Platini scoring a hat-trick and Alain Giresse and Luis Fernández also on target.

The sides' other European Championship meetings have all come in qualifying with Belgium holding the upper hand. The Red Devils won 2-1 in Brussels before a 1-1 draw in Nantes in the 1968 qualifying competition, and were again victorious 2-1 in Brussels in the 1976 preliminaries, drawing the away fixture 0-0 in Paris.

The teams met in a 3-3 draw in Brussels on 1 May 1904, the first official international match for either side.

The 75 games between the countries mean this is both sides' most frequent fixture.

EURO facts

France

European champions in 1984, as hosts, and 2000, France are in the finals for the 11th time overall and have not missed a tournament since 1988.

Hosts in 2016, when they lost to Portugal in the final, Les Bleus have been coached by Deschamps since 2012.

France were first in Group F at EURO 2020, ahead of Germany, holders Portugal and Hungary, but bowed out in the first knockout stage, losing 5-4 on penalties to Switzerland after a 3-3 draw in which they had led 3-1 with nine minutes remaining.

Deschamps' side have reached the final in three of last four World Cups and European Championships, losing 1-0 after extra time to Portugal in 2016 and Argentina on penalties in 2022 but beating Croatia to claim their second world title in 2018.

France won seven of their eight games on their way to EURO 2024, sealing their place in Germany with two matches to spare thanks to a 2-1 win away to the Netherlands on 13 October. They ended with 22 points, four clear of runners-up the Dutch.

A 14-0 home defeat of Gibraltar in France's penultimate fixture set a new European Championship qualifying record for biggest victory and was also Les Bleus' largest win.

Deschamps' team are unbeaten in six games (W3 D3), since a 2-0 friendly reverse at home to Germany on 23 March. That is their only loss in their last 11 matches (W6 D4).

France have now progressed from the group stage eight times in ten EURO appearances, including in seven of the last eight.

Kylian Mbappé's penalty against Poland on Matchday 3 was his first goal in a EURO final tournament in his sixth appearance.

Les Bleus' record in the round of 16 is W1 L1. They beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in 2016 but lost on penalties to Switzerland at EURO 2020.

France's Matchday 1 win against Austria was their first game in Düsseldorf.

Belgium

Co-hosts with the Netherlands in 2000, Belgium did not feature again until 2016 but are now making their third successive EURO appearance.

Belgium beat their main Group F rivals Austria 3-2 on 13 October to confirm their place at a third successive EURO in their first campaign under German-Italian coach Domenico Tedesco. They finished top of the section on 20 points, one above the Austrians.

Belgium have been quarter-finalists at the last two European Championships, losing 3-1 to Wales in the last eight in 2016 and going out 2-1 against eventual champions Italy at EURO 2020. Roberto Martínez's side had won their previous four games in the latter tournament, finishing top of Group B ahead of Denmark, Finland and Russia before eliminating holders Portugal 1-0 in the round of 16.

Belgium's best EURO performance came in 1980, when they reached the final before losing 2-1 to West Germany.

The Matchday 1 defeat by Slovakia is Belgium's only loss in their last 18 matches (W11 D6), since a 2-0 reverse against Morocco on Matchday 2 of the 2022 World Cup.

The stalemate against Ukraine on Matchday 3 was Belgium's first draw in 20 EURO finals matches (W10 L9), a run stretching back to 1980.

Belgium have now qualified from their group at their last three EURO appearances, having failed to progress in the previous two; they also reached the final from the group stage in 1980.

The Red Devils have won both previous round of 16 ties, against Hungary in 2016 (4-0) and holders Portugal at EURO 2020 (1-0).

Belgium's sole previous game in Düsseldorf brought a 2-1 loss against Germany in EURO 2012 qualifying on 11 October 2011, a match Jan Vertonghen started with Lukaku a half-time substitute.

Links and trivia

Have played in France:
Arthur Theate (Rennes 2022–)
Orel Mangala (Lyon 2024)
Matz Selz (Strasbourg 2018–24)
Wout Faes (Reims 2020–22)
Thomas Meunier (Paris 2016–20)
Youri Tielemans (Monaco, 2017–19)
Amadou Onana (LOSC Lille 2021/22)
Yannick Carrasco (Monaco 2012–15)
Dodi Lukébakio (Toulouse 2016/17)
Loïs Openda (Lens 2022/23)
Jérémy Doku (Rennes 2020–23)

Have played together:
William Saliba & Leandro Trossard (Arsenal 2023–)
Antoine Griezmann & Arthur Vermeeren (Atlético 2024–)
Antoine Griezmann & Axel Witsel (Atlético 2022–)
Romelu Lukaku & N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea 2021/22)
Antoine Griezmann & Yannick Carrasco (Atlético 2015–21)
Youssouf Fofana & Matz Selz (Strasbourg 2018–20)
Mike Maignan, Théo Hernandez, Olivier Giroud & Charles De Ketelaere (AC Milan 2022/23)
Brice Samba & Loïs Openda (Lens 2022/23)
Adrien Rabiot & Thomas Meunier (Paris 2016–19)
Eduardo Camavinga & Jérémy Doku (Rennes 2020/21)

Penalty shoot-outs

France's record in eight competitive penalty shoot-outs is W3 L5 with defeats in the last three:
4-5 v West Germany, 1982 World Cup semi-final
4-3 v Brazil, 1986 World Cup quarter-final
5-4 v Netherlands, EURO '96 quarter-final
5-6 v Czech Republic, EURO '96 semi-final
4-3 v Italy, 1998 World Cup quarter-final
3-5 v Italy, 2006 World Cup final
4-5 v Switzerland, EURO 2020 round of 16
2-4 v Argentina, 2022 World Cup final

Belgium's record in competitive penalty shoot-outs is W1 L0:
5-4 v Spain, 1986 World Cup quarter-final