England has not played its best football, far from it….Some players looking off form like Foden, Saka, Rice even Bellingham and Kane…
However, England finished first and now is on the right side of the draw…
England’s path to the final would include:
- Beating Slovakia
- Beating Switzerland or Italy
- Beating Romania or Netherlands or Austria or Turkey
Besides Switzerland and Austria, none of the team has played well so far but of course, Italy and Netherlands have quality players and coaches and can always pull a rabbit out of the hat…But honestly, this is the right side of the draw and if somehow Southgate finally gets the right set up, England should be in the Final.
On the other side, France has a mountain to climb:
- Beat Belgium
- Beat Portugal (or Slovenia)
- Beat Spain or Germany or Georgia or Denmark
So here is my prediction for the final 4:
- Portugal – Germany
- England – Netherlands
And for the final:
- = Portugal – England
Winner: TBD
I also think that France will lose next round and that Deschamps may be asked to leave although he just said he ll stay until 2026…
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
France – Belgium, key match ups:
So all and all, I think Belgium will win and will win comfortably against France like an easy 2-0.
u give lukaku to much credit
It s more that I really don’t trust Kounde and Upamecano…lol
I can totally see Deschamp play a double defensive wall with a 451 with:
Maignan – Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez – Kolo Muani (or Coman), Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot, Barcola – Mbappe
Ultimately, you have to stop KDB dictating the game and you have to block Doku and Trossard (or Lukebandio) and then, basically, Belgium won’t be able to create much and this is usually Deschamps’ approach to game – let us set up so that we are hard to beat…He does not approach the game to see us dictate the game or impose a certain game style to the opposition…He purely relies on Mbappe’s brillance for goal scoring this time…
I think a player like Dembele or Thuram or Griezam can come in to make us more lethal as the game goes on but ultimately, I can’t see Deschamps moving forward with a game plan with a press or counter-press…
Belgium’s right wing can be exposed so I am sure Barcola and Mbappe will try to do just that but we will need Rabiot, Kante and also Kolo Muani (or Coman or Dembele) to add some bodies in the box when the crosses come in…
I would set up the France team in a 3412 set up with:
Maignan – Pavard, Upamecano, Saliba – Clauss, Kante, Rabiot, Hernandez – Griezmann – Thuram, Mbappe
But this requires a very good Griezmann and since he is a bit jaded, you may have to either
It is just a bit strange that Deschamps did not select a player like Olise or Nkunku that could really have provided a good solution to replace Griezmann…Olise had a very good season and Nkunku was coming back nicely too…
or ok fair enough lok
So here is the predicted line-up in a 4312
Maignan – Kounde, Saliba, Upamecano, Hernandez – Kante, Tchouameni, Rabiot – Griezmann – Mbappe, Thuram
Well that basically the same line up minus wasteful dembele hopefully this works
Year more of less but different set-up…Let us see…
I think that it is important to block Doku (Kante-Kounge), KDB (Griezmann, Tchouameni), Lukeb. (Rabiot-Hernandez) while also targeting Theate, Castagne, Vertongen…
Lukaku and Onana will also be annoying to manage but I think that if we cut the lines and passes, we should be OK.
I still think my set-up is better but I am very biased:-P