France beat Belgium 4-1 as Michael Olise scores twice for Zidane’s side

France secured a 4-1 comeback victory against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on October 5, 2026, at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, surging toward the quarterfinals behind a decisive late-game performance from substitute Michael Olise. Zinedine Zidane’s side overcame an early deficit after Dodi Lukébakio opened the scoring for Belgium in the 35th minute, orchestrating a four-goal second-half onslaught that solidified Les Bleus’ command of Group A1.

Rotations and Early Belgian Resistance

Both teams entered the fourth-matchday fixture with heavily rotated starting lineups. Meanwhile, Belgium manager Mark van Bommel deployed an attacking setup featuring Romelu Lukaku flanked by Moreira and Lukébakio.

The visiting side capitalized on the tactical setup early on. In the 35th minute, midfielder Romeo Lavia delivered a precise ball behind the French backline. Lukébakio collected it, squared up goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, and hammered a shot into the top corner to give the Red Devils a 1-0 advantage.

Zidane’s Substitutions Turn the Match

Frustrated by a lack of a clinical edge in the final third during the opening frame, Zidane turned to his bench after halftime. The tactical shift proved decisive. The introductions of Olise, Cherki, and Désiré Doué completely altered the tempo and dismantled Belgium’s defensive block.

The equalizer arrived in the 77th minute when Da Cunha supplied Doué near the top of the penalty area. Doué turned with minimal pressure and fired a low shot past Belgian goalkeeper Vandevoordt. Four minutes later, Olise drove down the right flank and cut the ball back for Cherki, who finished from close range to give France a 2-1 lead.

Olise Secures Historic Brace

With Belgium’s defense reeling, Olise took complete control of the match’s closing moments. The winger netted two consecutive goals off quick first-time finishes in the 88th minute and during stoppage time at 90+1′, both assisted by Doué.

The 4-1 scoreline marks the first time France has scored four goals against Belgium in a single match since their 1986 World Cup meeting on June 28, 1986. The result lifts Les Bleus to 31 all-time victories against their neighbors, surpassing Belgium's 30 wins in head-to-head history, as detailed by Goal.com.

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