Belgium smarting from Euro elimination as they take on France again

LYON, France : Belgium are still hurting after their Euro 2024 exit at the hands of France, feeling they showed them too much respect, coach Domenico Tedesco said on the eve of a return clash in the Nations League.

France host Belgium in Lyon in a second game of the new Nations League campaign for both countries and only 70 days after France edged Belgium 1-0 in Duesseldorf in the last-16 at Euro 2024.

"At the European Championship, it was a close one against France. We could have won too,” Tedesco said at a press conference on Sunday.

“France were a bit better, they deserved to win, but we also had our chances. It would be a lie if I said that match is forgotten, it still hurts. I often think about the European Championship, but you also must look ahead.

“Looking back is not always the best solution. We have to be ambitious, it's been a long time since we beat France in a competitive match with commitment. Let us perform well and then the rest will follow."

Tedesco said they over planned for the Euro 2024 clash and showed the French too much respect.

"The last match at the European Championship was different from the one now, it was a knockout match. We learned that we adjusted our own plans a bit too much then. You always have to analyse your opponent, but we adjusted excessively,” he added.

Belgium began their campaign with a 3-1 win over Israel behind closed doors on Friday in Debrecen, Hungary where they had switched the match for security reasons.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Ken Ferris)