Bet of the Day: France v Belgium: Back Olise to impress again in home win at 16/5

France solid but unspectacular under Zidane

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Monday 05 October, 19:45
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France are on course to make the Nations League finals, and have collected seven points from their three games under new coach Zinedine Zidane. Narrow 1-0 wins in Turkiye and Belgium were followed by a 1-1 draw against Italy, a game that saw France miss several chances to augment their lead before gifting an equaliser to the Azzurri.

Like a number of international coaches in this window, Zidane has been able to look at a number of new faces. Como midfielder Lucas da Cunha gifted a leveller to the Italians but has generally impressed, Liverpool centre-back Jeremy Jacquet had an outstanding debut and Esteban Lepaul was given a chance in attack after scoring freely in Ligue 1 for several seasons.

Jacquet could get another chance here, with Dayot Upamecano suspended after a red card against Italy. Kylian Mbappe is still out with a knee injury.

Van Bommel has made a flying start

Zinedine Zidane isn't the only midfield star-turned-coach making his international debut in the dugout. Dutchman Mark van Bommel was recruited by Belgium after some excellent work at Antwerp, and he has picked up two wins and a narrow loss to France.

Belgium have played with intensity, but there is still a place for their old stagers. Their three goals in the win over Turkiye were scored by Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, and one was tempted to race into the street to ask passers-by what year it was.

Van Bommel has been happy to give lots of minutes to certain players, but he'll have to shuffle his pack here, with de Bruyne and Youri Tielemans suspended. Charles De Ketelaere is likely to get the nod to spearhead the attack ahead of Lukaku.

France v Belgium Bet Builder: Doue and Olise part of 16/5 treble

While Belgium were very close to holding France in the reverse fixture, it was a game that Les Bleus dominated, and a depleted and tired Belgium might struggle to contain the hosts here. I'll start this 16/54.20 Bet Builder treble with a home win.

I'll back in-form Bayern star Michael Olise to score or assist. He set up Kylian Mbappe's winner in Turkiye, scored a superb solo goal late on to beat Belgium and then put France in front against Italy with a wonderful long-range strike.

Finally I'll go for Desire Doue to have two or more shots on target. The two-time Champions League winner has had eight shots across his last two starts for France, three of which were on target, and he hit the target twice in both the World Cup quarter-final and semi-final. If Doue doesn't start, the first two selections still make for a decent double at evens.

Now read our other Nations League tips here!