France delivered a stunning late comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France on Monday, October 5, 2026. The dramatic win marked Zinedine Zidane's first home victory as coach of Les Bleus, keeping France undefeated and top of their group. Trailing 1-0 at halftime, Zidane's tactical substitutions in the second half transformed the contest.
Belgium had taken the lead in the 35th minute through Dodi Lukébakio, who capitalized on a long pass from Roméo Lavia to sprint clear of his marker and score past debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes. Despite dominating possession and creating 22 shot attempts, France struggled to penetrate Belgium's organized defense in the opening period. Debutant Belgian goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt made several key saves to keep the visitors ahead at halftime.
The narrative shifted dramatically following Zidane's second-half adjustments. Introducing Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Lucas Da Cunha, France flooded the attacking third with pace and verticality. The breakthrough arrived in the 77th minute when 21-year-old Désiré Doué unleashed a low strike from the edge of the penalty box into the bottom corner.
Four minutes later, Doué turned provider, linking up with Olise before finding Rayan Cherki, who swept home to give France a 2-1 lead. Olise then took full command of the closing minutes, converting a neat pass from Doué in the 88th minute before adding his second of the night in stoppage time to complete the 4-1 rout.
The victory solidifies France's position at the summit of Nations League Group A1 with 10 points from four matches. Belgium remain third on six points, trailing second-placed Italy. Zidane praised his substitutes, saying their impact was "simply exceptional" and that the response from the entire squad was "top class".
The international campaign resumes in November 2026, when France travel to face Italy in Milan before closing out the group phase on home soil against Turkey. This win marks a significant milestone for Zidane, who has been working to revitalize the French team since taking charge.
The match showcased the impact of tactical substitutions, with Olise and Doué scoring two goals and providing crucial assists to secure the win. France's performance in the second half demonstrated their ability to adapt and respond to challenges, a key factor in their success in the tournament so far.
Key points
- France's dramatic comeback win against Belgium keeps them top of Nations League Group A1.
- Substitutes Michael Olise and Désiré Doué scored key goals in France's 4-1 victory.
- Zinedine Zidane secured his first home win as France coach, maintaining their unbeaten run in the tournament.
