Belgium to face France without De Bruyne and Tielemans

Belgium faces an uphill battle at the Stade de France on Monday after losing two of their most influential players to suspension ahead of the UEFA Nations League encounter.

Captain Youri Tielemans and midfield linchpin Kevin De Bruyne will both miss the fixture, depriving the Belgian side of crucial creative and leadership qualities as they seek to challenge the French hosts.

The absences represent a significant blow to Belgium's prospects in the Nations League, removing two mainstays from their midfield setup. De Bruyne's absence in particular weakens their attacking options, while Tielemans' suspension removes their captain from the field during an important competition fixture.

Belgium will need to reorganise their midfield without the pair and find alternative sources of creativity and drive as they attempt to secure a positive result on the road against one of Europe's strongest sides.