Match Preview - Belgium vs. France - Friendly - August 14th, 2013

Belgium and France meet in an international friendly on Wednesday, August 14th, 2013 at the Koning Boudewijn Stadion in Brussels. The game start time is 15:00 EDT.

Both Belgium and France are playing attractive football these days. Belgium are in first place in Group A of the World Cup qualifiers, ahead of Croatia, Serbia, Wales, Scotland and Macedonia, while France are second in Group I, behind Spain and ahead of Finland, Georgia and Belarus.

The current Belgian squad is stacked with good players. Thibaut Courtois is one of the fastest rising goalkeepers in Europe, while Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Christian Benteke are all dominant figures in the English Premier League. Axel Witsel from zenit Saint Petersburg is one of the highest paid players in the world at the moment.

The French national team is just as stacked with star players. They have Hugo Lloris in goal, Eirc Abidal, Patrice Evra and Laurent Koscielny on defense, while Karim Benzema, Olivier Giroud, Franck Ribery and Samir Nasri are taking care of things up front.

The odds for the upcoming match in Brussels are as follows:

Belgium: 13/10
Draw: 21/10
France: 2/1

Belgium are the favourites to win on home soil. A $100 bet on the hosts could return $130 in profit, while the same bet on France could return $200 in profit.

This is an important practice game for both teams. There are only a few games left in the qualifications for the World Cup and both teams need to perform.

Belgium still must play two big away matches vs. Scotland and Croatia and then they will host Wales on October 15th.

France will be traveling to Georgia in September and Belarus in October, and will host Finland in their last match in Group I on October 15th.

This should be a good game!