France suffer blow ahead of Belgium clash as player leaves Euro 2024 camp days before game

The knockout phase of Euro 2024 begins on Saturday evening and France are among the favourites to win the tournament - but may have to beat Belgium without one of their key attacking threats.

The group stage is done and dusted and all focus for the 16 nations remaining in the competition is the road to the Olympiastadion in Berlin on July 14.

England won Group C with one win and two draws, despite a trio of questionable performances which have drawn intense scrutiny and criticism.

However, Gareth Southgate's side have secured a spot in the more favourable half of the draw to the final, avoiding the likes of Germany, Spain, Portugal and France.

The Three Lions take on Slovakia on Sunday evening, and will face the victors of Saturday's clash between Switzerland and Italy, the latter being the side which beat England three years ago on penalties in the Euro 2020 final.

The winners of the subsequent quarter-final will take on either Austria, the Netherlands, Romania or Turkey in the semi-final to win the right to be in Berlin in the middle of next month.

For France, Didier Deschamps' side will be aiming to win the Euros for the third time, following triumphs in 1984 and 2000.

They take on Belgium in their last 16 clash, but could have to do it without one of their big name attacking stars.

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Kingsley Coman has so far played just 15 minutes for Les Bleus in Germany, coming on in France's goalless draw against the Dutch in the group phase, and having been an unused substitute in the victory over Austria and 1-1 draw with Poland.

But according to French outlet RMC Sport, Coman has departed the French training camp ahead of their Belgium clash to travel to Sweden.

The reason is a worthy one, as the Bayern Munich man is travelling to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child.

The situation is not an unfamiliar one in international football, with England man Phil Foden recently briefly heading back to the UK to be with his partner for the birth of their third child.

It is reported that Coman is thought to potentially still be in contention to play a part against Belgium on Monday evening when the two sides clash in Dusseldorf.

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