Saliba, Trossard? Early France vs Belgium team news | OneFootball

William Saliba is set to keep his place in the France starting lineup against Belgium on Monday night, according to reports.

France’s William Saliba eyes the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D football match between Austria and France at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on June 17, 2024. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

France take on Belgium in their Euro 2024 last-16 tie on Monday night, and Arsenal’s William Saliba is set to be involved again for his country.

L’Equipe report that no changes are expected in defence for France, with Saliba playing alongside Dayot Upamecano, Jules Kounde, and Theo Hernandez.

According to the claims, Mike Maignan will be in goal, with N’Golo Kante, Aurelien Tchouameni, Adrien Rabiot, Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Thuram, and Kylian Mbappe completing the lineup.

Saliba wasn’t a regular starter for France ahead of this tournament, but he’s been almost faultless with the team over the last fortnight.

If anything, Upamecano was the more likely player to be dropped after France’s last group game, having conceded the penalty that led to their first failure to keep a clean sheet and subsequent runner-up group finish.

France’s William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano fight for the ball with Austria’s Marcel Sabitzer during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D football match between Austria and France at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on June 17, 2024. (Photo by ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images)

The real test comes now, with no room for error in the knockout games. Speaking after their game against France was confirmed, Saliba discussed the prospect of facing Romelu Lukaku.

“Clearly I have not faced him before,” Saliba said. “We have TV, we all see, we know that he is one of the best attackers in the world, we will have to be concentrated.

“We will do everything to defend well against him, it’s not only him, there are other players nearby too.

“So that’s my message to the team, to defend well against this type of player.”

Belgium’s Leandro Trossard controls the ball past Ukraine’s Mykola Matviyenko and Georgiy Sudakov during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group E football match between Ukraine and Belgium at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart on June 26, 2024. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)

Of course, one of those ‘other players’ on Belgium’s side is Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard, but Nieuwsblad report that it’s likely the Gunners forward will drop to the bench for this one.

The Belgian outlet suggest Trossard and Tielemans will be the only changes from the last lineup, with Dodi Lukebakio and Orel Mangala coming in.

The other nine players to start the last match were Koen Casteels, Jan Vertonghen, Arthur Theate, Wout Faes, Timothy Castagne, Amadou Onana, Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku, and Lukaku.

Whatever happens, one of the two Arsenal players will be beginning their summer holiday on Tuesday morning, and the other will see their team preparing for a European quarter-final.