France secured a stunning 4-1 victory over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, with Michael Olise playing a pivotal role off the bench. The match at the Stade de France saw Dodi Lukebakio give Belgium an early lead, but France mounted a remarkable comeback in the final 13 minutes, scoring four goals to preserve Zinedine Zidane's unbeaten start as coach. This win moved France closer to the quarter-finals and handed Zidane his first home victory.
The match began with Belgium taking the lead through Lukebakio, who fired the visitors ahead in the first half. This goal put Belgium on course for their first competitive win over France in 45 years. However, France's hopes were boosted when Desire Doue equalized in the 77th minute with a low drive from the edge of the area. This goal marked a turning point in the match, as France went on to dominate the final minutes.
Michael Olise, who came on as a substitute, was instrumental in France's comeback. He teed up Rayan Cherki to fire France ahead four minutes after Doue's equalizer. Olise then scored himself, putting the result beyond doubt with a third goal in the 88th minute. He added another goal in stoppage time, completing a remarkable turnaround for France.
The win for France moved them three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1, with Belgium another point back. Italy secured a 3-1 win over Turkey in Bologna, condemning Turkey to a fourth straight loss. Zidane's side had also beaten Belgium 1-0 in Brussels last week, courtesy of a late Olise goal. This victory maintained France's strong start to the UEFA Nations League.
Zidane made 10 changes to his team for this match, with only Ousmane Dembele keeping his place in the starting lineup. The French team saw two debutants in Leny Yoro, a Manchester United defender, and Guillaume Restes, a Toulouse goalkeeper. Dembele captained the side in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe. Despite the changes, France showed resilience to secure a convincing win.
Belgium, on the other hand, were without the suspended duo of Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans. They started strongly, with Romeo Lavia's superb ball allowing Lukebakio to race clear and score. However, their lead was short-lived, as France mounted a stunning comeback in the final minutes. Maarten Vandevoordt, making his debut in goal for Belgium, kept out several efforts from France but could not prevent the goals.
The win for France preserved Zidane's unbeaten start as coach and moved them closer to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Nations League. Olise's performance off the bench was particularly notable, as he scored two goals and provided an assist. This victory marked a significant statement from France, who are looking to make a strong impact in the tournament.
Key points
- France moved three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1 with the win.
- Michael Olise scored two goals and provided an assist off the bench.
- Zinedine Zidane secured his first home win as France coach.
