The France national football team holds the top position in UEFA Nations League Group A after defeating Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France, leaving head coach Zinédine Zidane’s squad needing only a draw in their upcoming match against Italy to secure a quarterfinal berth. With four matches completed in the group stage, Les Bleus sit on 10 points heading into the November fixtures.
Stade de France Victory Keeps Les Bleus atop Group A
Playing in front of 75,389 spectators in Saint-Denis, France overcame a halftime deficit to defeat Belgium 4-1 on October 5, 2026. Dodi Lukébakio opened the scoring for the visitors in the 35th minute, giving Belgium a 1-0 lead at the break. France secured the win through a late offensive surge, marking the first time the team won a match while trailing past the 76th minute since May 2012 against Iceland.
Substitutes altered the momentum of the match after the hour mark. The introductions of Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Désiré Doué injected pace and precision into the French attack. Désiré Doué equalized in the 77th minute before Rayan Cherki scored in the 81st minute following a setup from Michael Olise. Olise then added two goals of his own in the 88th and 90th+1 minutes, both assisted by Désiré Doué, sealing the 4-1 scoreline.
Standings and Scenarios for the November Fixtures
France leads Group A with 10 points through four matches, holding a three-point advantage over second-place Italy, which holds seven points and a +3 goal difference compared to France’s +5. Belgium sits in third place with six points, while Turkey remains at the bottom of the group without a point.
France will secure a quarterfinal spot if they avoid defeat against Italy in Milan on November 12, 2026. A loss to Italy would still suffice for qualification provided Belgium fails to defeat Turkey on November 15, 2026. If France loses both of their remaining matches and Belgium wins both, finishing level on 10 points with Italy and France, head-to-head tiebreakers would relegate Les Bleus to third place behind the Squadra Azzurra.
Olise Shines While Dembélé Struggles
Media reports following the fixture highlighted stark contrasts in player output during the contest. Ousmane Dembélé was awarded a 2.5/10 rating, noting that the Paris Saint-Germain forward struggled with technical execution and lost possession leading up to Belgium’s opening goal. Conversely, praise centered on Michael Olise, whose performances off the bench have proven decisive across the campaign, including a crucial free-kick against Italy in a previous fixture and a two-goal, one-assist display against Belgium.
Zinédine Zidane maintained an unbeaten record in his opening four matches as France manager, registering three victories and one draw. The fixture also marked milestone appearances, with Jules Koundé earning his 58th cap and 50th start for the national team, joining a select group of players to reach that milestone in the current decade.
Next Fixtures in Milan and Saint-Denis
The UEFA Nations League group stage concludes in November 2026. France travels to face Italy in Milan on November 12, 2026, before returning home to host Turkey on November 15, 2026, to finalize the Group A schedule.
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