France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Belgium at the Stade Roi-Baudouin on Monday, September 28, 2026, courtesy of an 88th-minute solo goal from Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise. The match saw a heavily rotated French lineup dominate possession while struggling to finish, hitting the woodwork three times before Olise broke the deadlock late in the contest.
Late Match Winner and Decisive Action
The breakthrough arrived in the 88th minute when Olise, who entered the match as a 77th-minute substitute, collected a pass from fellow substitute Rayan Cherki. Controlling the ball with his shoulder, Olise drove past multiple defenders—resisting a challenge from Maxim De Cuyper and rounding Zinho Vanheusden—before curling a left-footed strike past goalkeeper Senne Lammens into the net.
The late winner handed France six points and marked their continued unbeaten run at the Stade Roi-Baudouin dating back to 1981. The fixture had faced a brief delay before kickoff due to equipment issues involving the visitors’ socks.
Zidane Celebrates Touchline Drama
Head coach Zinédine Zidane delivered an animated reaction to Olise’s late strike, sprinting down the touchline before kicking a loose ball near the technical area. The celebration captured a rare display of emotion from the French manager, who secured two victories in two matches at the helm of Les Bleus.
Woodwork Denies Dominant First Half
Before Olise’s late intervention, France created numerous opportunities through a revamped starting eleven that featured four debutants. Désiré Doué proved to be a constant threat in the opening period, driving past three defenders before hitting the crossbar in the 12th minute and striking the post again in the 52nd minute. Lucas Da Cunha also tested the frame of the goal with a long-range effort in the 54th minute, while Nathan Ngoy cleared a Pierre Kalulu attempt off the goal line for Belgium.
Despite the French pressure, Belgium managed dangerous moments, requiring goalkeeper Mike Maignan to make a crucial save against Dodi Lukebakio in the 74th minute during a strong spell for the hosts.
Tactical Lineup and Standout Debuts
Zidane’s experimental starting lineup yielded heavy involvement from newcomers. Operating in a holding midfield role, Lucas Da Cunha logged 82 touches to lead the team in distribution. In central defense, Jérémy Jacquet paired effectively with Maxence Lacroix to maintain a stable backline throughout the ninety minutes.
