The France national football team secured a 4–1 victory against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, October 5, at the Stade de France, overturning a first-half deficit with four late goals led by a double from Michael Olise.
Playing in Group 1 of the competition, the French side found themselves trailing in the 35th minute after Dodi Lukébakio opened the scoring for the visitors. France struggled to break down the Belgian defense for more than an hour, maintaining possession and territorial advantage without converting chances into goals.
Manager Zinédine Zidane, overseeing his first international window in charge of Les Bleus, altered the course of the match with second-half substitutions. The introduction of Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Michael Olise shifted the momentum.
Doué equalized in the 77th minute with a low left-footed shot. Cherki added a deflected strike in the 81st minute before Olise scored twice—first with his right foot in the 88th minute and then with his left in stoppage time (90+1′).
The result keeps France firmly at the top of Group 1 with three victories from four matches. The outcome also prevents Belgium from defeating France in a competitive fixture for the first time since 1981.
Tactical Risks and Youth Selections in the Starting Lineup
Zidane reshuffled his starting XI to cope with a dense international calendar, handing first international selections to 19-year-old goalkeeper Guillaume Restes and 20-year-old Manchester United defender Leny Yoro. Restes could do little to prevent Lukébakio’s opening goal, while Yoro faced a difficult evening in central defense trying to contain veteran Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku.
The attacking unit also labored before the substitutions. Without the injured Kylian Mbappé—sidelined following an injury sustained during a 1–0 win in Turkey on September 25—captain Ousmane Dembélé struggled to provide leadership from the right flank. Dembélé missed several opportunities in the first half and was replaced in the 60th minute.
Bradley Barcola also missed an opportunity in the first half, shooting straight at Belgian goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt in the 16th minute before missing another chance late in the match.
Standout Performers and Squad Depth
Michael Olise emerged as the most productive player of Zidane’s initial fortnight in charge. With his two goals against Belgium, Olise has scored four times in his four international appearances under the new manager.
The impact of the substitutes highlighted the depth of the French player pool. Doué, Cherki, and Olise combined to dismantle a Belgian defensive line that had held firm for the first three-quarters of the match.
Upcoming Fixtures in Group 1
With three wins and one draw from their opening four matches, France holds the top position in Group 1 and moves closer to qualification for the Nations League quarterfinals. Zidane’s side will conclude their group-stage campaign in November with matches away against Italy and at home against Turkey.
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