What Happened
France secured a dramatic 1-0 victory against Belgium in Brussels, thanks to a stunning individual goal from substitute Michael Olise.
With the match locked in a scoreless stalemate late in the second half, the Bayern Munich star changed the game in the 88th minute. Coming off the bench in the 77th minute for Bradley Barcola, Olise collected possession deep inside his own half. He drove forward untouched, advanced to the edge of the Belgian penalty area, and curled a precise shot past goalkeeper Senne Lammens into the bottom-left corner.
The result keeps France at the summit of UEFA Nations League Group A1 with a perfect six points from two matches.
Zidane's Winning Start Continues
The victory marks Zinedine Zidane's second consecutive win since taking over as France coach from Didier Deschamps following the World Cup. It builds on a tight 1-0 away win against Turkiye just days prior.
Zidane managed this victory despite deploying a heavily rotated lineup at the King Baudouin Stadium. He made nine changes from the previous match, retaining only goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defender Maxence Lacroix.
The reshuffled squad also featured debuts for Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul, the reigning top scorer in Ligue 1. Les Bleus managed to control proceedings despite missing captain Kylian Mbappe, who returned to Real Madrid for treatment on a left knee injury sustained against Turkiye.
How the Match Unfolded
Throughout the fixture, France created the clearer scoring opportunities. Paris Saint-Germain's Desire Doue rattled the crossbar during a dominant first-half display, while debutant Da Cunha struck the upright early in the second half.
Belgium, under the guidance of new coach Mark van Bommel making his home debut, offered a resolute defensive block but struggled to break through a disciplined French backline. Just as the match appeared destined for a scoreless draw, Olise produced his moment of brilliance to break the deadlock.
What's Next
France now return home to prepare for a high-stakes clash against Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, marking Zidane's managerial homecoming. Following that fixture, Les Bleus will host Belgium again on October 5 as the Nations League group stage progresses.
