Michael Olise delivered a moment of late magic in Brussels, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory for France against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League. Coming on as a substitute in the 76th minute, the Bayern Munich winger scored a stunning solo goal in the 88th minute. This extended Les Bleus’ winning streak in head-to-head matches against their neighbors to six games.
- Tactical Setup and First-Half Stalemate
- Olise Breaks the Deadlock Late
- Group Standings and Outlook
- Match Lineups and Statistics
- Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
- Who scored the winning goal for France against Belgium?
- Why was Kylian Mbappé missing from the French squad?
- What is France’s standing in the UEFA Nations League group?
- Who managed the Belgian national team for this fixture?
- How many consecutive head-to-head wins does France hold over Belgium?
The fixture at the King Baudouin Stadium marked Zinedine Zidane’s second match in charge of the French national team. Following an opening win against Turkey, Zidane made nine changes to his starting lineup. He notably played without captain Kylian Mbappé, who was sidelined due to a left knee injury sustained in the previous fixture. Despite the rotations, France controlled large portions of the match through disciplined midfield play and superior possession, leaving Belgium’s tactical setup under immense pressure.
Tactical Setup and First-Half Stalemate
Belgium manager Mark van Bommel deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, utilizing a mid-to-low block designed to frustrate the visitors. The Belgian defense faced wave after wave of French attacks, holding just 35 percent of possession throughout the evening. Goalkeeper Senne Lammens stood out under extreme pressure, earning a team-high match rating by turning away multiple dangerous efforts.
France dominated the attacking metrics early on. Debutant midfielder Lucas da Cunha helped dictate the tempo alongside Eduardo Camavinga, while Désiré Doué put on a masterclass in the final third. Doué was particularly unlucky not to find the back of the net, seeing one brilliant effort crash against the crossbar in the first half and forcing several sharp saves from Lammens. Fellow newcomer Estéban Lepaul also tested the Belgian defense on his first start, but the opening 45 minutes ended scoreless despite 14 total shots from both sides.
Olise Breaks the Deadlock Late
The second half mirrored the first, with France maintaining territorial dominance while Belgium sought to counter through Kevin De Bruyne, Mika Godts, and Dodi Lukébakio. Godts and Lukébakio both posed threats on the flanks, but French goalkeeper Mike Maignan stood firm to deny any Belgian breakthrough, notably stopping Lukébakio after a dangerous run into the penalty area.
Zidane turned to his bench as regulation time dwindled. He introduced Olise and Rayan Cherki to inject fresh energy into the attack. The tactical shift paid off in the 88th minute during a swift counter-attack initiated by Cherki. Olise brought down a long ball on his shoulder in his own half, accelerated past a retreating Belgian defender, and coolly slotted a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner past Lammens.
Group Standings and Outlook
The 1-0 triumph places France at the absolute summit of Group A1 with six points from two matches, making them the standalone leader in the group. Meanwhile, the defeat snaps Belgium’s impressive six-match unbeaten run on home soil.
Looking ahead to the upcoming fixtures in the UEFA Nations League schedule, France will prepare to face Italy on Friday, September 28, looking to maintain their flawless start. Belgium will aim to rebound when they square off against Turkey.
Match Lineups and Statistics
- Belgium (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, Seys (De Cuyper 68′); Tielemans, Lavia (Raskin 85′); Moreira (Lukébakio 63′), De Bruyne (Vanaken 63′), Godts; De Ketelaere (Fernandez-Pardo 85′). Manager: Mark van Bommel.
- France (4-3-3): Maignan; Kalulu, Jacquet, Lacroix, Diouf; Akliouche (Cherki 77′), da Cunha (Koné 90′), Camavinga; Doué, Lepaul (Dembélé 68′), Barcola (Olise 77′). Manager: Zinedine Zidane.
- Goalscorer: Michael Olise (88′) for France.
- Yellow Cards: Moreira (42′), De Bruyne (57′), Tielemans (66′) for Belgium.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Match
Who scored the winning goal for France against Belgium?
Michael Olise scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute with a brilliant solo effort after coming on as a late substitute.
Why was Kylian Mbappé missing from the French squad?
Kylian Mbappé was unavailable for selection because he sustained a left knee injury during France’s opening match against Turkey.
What is France’s standing in the UEFA Nations League group?
Following their victory over Belgium, France sits at the top of Group A1 with a perfect record of six points from two matches.
Who managed the Belgian national team for this fixture?
Mark van Bommel served as the manager for the Belgian Red Devils during the encounter.
How many consecutive head-to-head wins does France hold over Belgium?
With this late 1-0 victory in Brussels, France extended their winning streak against Belgium in head-to-head meetings to six matches.
