The match initially appeared to be heading in Belgium's favor after Dodi Lukebakio opened the scoring in the first half. Capitalizing on a precise through ball from Romeo Lavia that dismantled the French defense, Lukebakio slotted home to put the visitors in a position to claim their first competitive win over France in 45 years. Despite persistent pressure from the hosts, including attempts from Esteban Lepaul and Rayan Cherki, Belgium’s debutant goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt held firm for much of the contest.
A Late French Surge Led by Olise
The momentum shifted decisively in the final 13 minutes as France mounted a clinical comeback. Desire Doue ignited the turnaround in the 77th minute, finding the net with a low strike from the edge of the penalty area. With the deadlock broken, Olise took control of the proceedings. Four minutes after the equalizer, the Bayern Munich winger provided the assist for Rayan Cherki to put the hosts in front.
Olise then cemented the result by scoring twice in the closing stages. He added a third goal in the 88th minute and rounded off the scoring in stoppage time following a setup from Doue. Reflecting on the impact of his substitute, Zidane praised the performance as exceptional. The victory moves France three points clear at the top of Group A1, continuing a successful international window that also included a 1-0 win against the same opponents in Brussels last week.
Zidane, who made 10 changes to his starting lineup for the fixture, expressed optimism regarding the team's progress. With 10 points secured from his first four matches, the manager emphasized the importance of the recent two-week period. While acknowledging that there is room for improvement, Zidane noted his satisfaction with the collective effort of his staff and players. The match also saw debuts for Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, with Ousmane Dembele captaining the side in the absence of Kylian Mbappe.
