France produced a sensational late comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League, with Michael Olise scoring twice as Zinedine Zidane’s impressive start as national team coach continued.
The French side appeared destined for a frustrating night at the Stade de France after Belgium took the lead and remained ahead for more than 70 minutes.
However, a dramatic late turnaround saw France score four goals in the final stages of the match to secure a convincing victory...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Belgium stunned the home crowd in the 35th minute when Dodi Lukebakio broke behind the French defence before calmly finishing past goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.
France dominated possession for long periods but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities, particularly with captain Kylian Mbappe absent.
The hosts continued searching for an equaliser after the break, but Belgium’s defensive organisation kept France at bay.
Zidane then turned to his substitutes, bringing on Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise as France looked for a way back into the game.
The changes eventually transformed the contest.
Désiré Doué restored parity in the 77th minute with a superb left-footed effort from the edge of the penalty area.
Just four minutes later, France completed the turnaround.
Olise created space on the right before delivering a dangerous ball for Cherki, who finished to put France 2-1 ahead.
Belgium suddenly found itself under intense pressure, with the French attack now operating at a completely different level.
Olise then got on the scoresheet himself in the 88th minute, finishing from close range to give France a two-goal cushion.
The Bayern Munich forward was not finished.
In stoppage time, Doué produced an excellent pass into the path of Olise, who kept his composure before firing home his second goal of the night to complete the 4-1 victory.
The remarkable turnaround highlighted the impact of Zidane’s tactical changes and the quality available on France’s bench.
Olise, Cherki and Doué were all instrumental in transforming a difficult game into a comfortable victory for the hosts.
The result also extended Zidane’s unbeaten start as France coach.
After four matches in charge, France have recorded three victories and one draw, giving the former Real Madrid manager an impressive beginning to his tenure.
The victory also strengthened France’s position at the top of their Nations League group.
Despite the impressive result, Zidane admitted there were areas his team needed to improve, particularly in the final third and in the speed of their attacks.
France struggled for much of the first half against Belgium’s deep defensive setup, but eventually found the intensity and creativity needed to break through.
The French team finished the match with a commanding second-half performance, completely overwhelming Belgium after the visitors had looked capable of securing a major result.
For Zidane, the victory represents his first home win as France manager and another important step in building his team.
For Olise, it was an unforgettable night.
The winger came off the bench and produced two goals and an assist, turning himself into the standout performer of a remarkable French comeback.
France will now look ahead to their next Nations League fixtures with growing confidence as Zidane continues to shape the team in his image.
After a difficult opening hour against Belgium, the final 20 minutes showed exactly why France remain one of the most dangerous teams in international football.
