Credited from: LEMONDE
France triumphed over Belgium 4-1 in their Nations League Group A1 match, demonstrating resilience by coming back from a goal down. Dodi Lukebakio had initially put Belgium in the lead at the 35th minute, giving them hope for their first competitive victory over France in 45 years. However, France's substitutes made a significant impact late in the game, scoring four goals in the final 13 minutes, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.
Key performances came from substitutes Michael Olise and Désiré Doué, who sparked the French comeback. Doué equalized in the 77th minute, followed shortly by Rayan Cherki, who scored the go-ahead goal after receiving an assist from Olise. Olise culminated the match with two late goals, sealing the 4-1 victory, as noted by Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.
Zinedine Zidane celebrated his first home victory as France’s manager, following a draw against Italy just three days earlier. He expressed optimism about the squad's development, emphasizing the importance of victories and team cohesion. Zidane remarked, "Olise, what he's doing is simply exceptional," underlining the player’s crucial role in the match. France now sits atop Group A1 with 10 points, outpacing Italy and Belgium, as both Italy and Belgium faced off against Turkey, according to Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Le Monde.