Late French Comeback
France Scores Four Late Goals to Defeat Belgium in Nations League
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Key Points
1
Zidane made 10 changes to France’s lineup; Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and goalkeeper Guillaume Restes made their France debuts, while Ousmane Dembélé captained the team in the injured Kylian Mbappé’s absence.
2
Belgium’s opener came from a superb long pass by Romeo Lavia, described by one report as a 60-yard through ball, that sent Lukebakio clear to score.
3
Belgium were without suspended midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans.
4
Olise’s two goals continued an exceptional run for France: he had been involved in 17 goals in 16 appearances for the national team in 2026.
France staged a stunning late rally to beat Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday at the Stade de France, scoring all four goals in a 14-minute blitz after falling behind. RFI reported that Dodi Lukébakio gave Belgium a 35th-minute lead with a clinical finish from a 60-yard pass by Roméo Lavia, but substitutes Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki turned the match around before Michael Olise struck twice to seal the rout.
The victory marked Zinédine Zidane's first home win as France coach and kept his side unbeaten across the international window. AP confirmed that France now leads Group A1 with 10 points from four matches, three points clear of Italy, who defeated Turkey 3-1 the same day. Belgium drop to third place with just four points, while Turkey remain winless.
Belgium's Early Lead Evaporates in Final Quarter
Belgium stunned France's heavily rotated lineup by taking the lead in the 35th minute. Goal.com detailed how Roméo Lavia's exceptional 60-yard pass split France's defense, leaving Dodi Lukébakio clear one-on-one against debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, who could not stop the Belgian forward's finish.
For 75 minutes, Belgium's low defensive block frustrated France's makeshift attack. But Zidane's triple substitution in the 60th minute—bringing on Olise, Cherki, and Doué—proved decisive. TNT Sports noted that the three substitutes generated two scoring chances each in just 30 minutes, exposing Belgium's growing fatigue.
Olise's Extraordinary Two-Goal Performance Seals Comeback
The turnaround began in the 77th minute when Désiré Doué spun on the edge of the penalty box and fired a low left-footed shot into the bottom corner to level at 1-1. Four minutes later, Michael Olise cut to the endline and crossed for Rayan Cherki, whose shot deflected off goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt's arm to make it 2-1. beIN SPORTS reported that Olise then scored twice more—tapping home in the 88th minute and sliding in a fourth goal in the 90+1st minute—both times receiving perfect passes from Doué.
Bluewin confirmed that Olise has been extraordinary for France in 2026, involved in 17 goals across 16 appearances for the national team. His brace extended France's dominance and capped an unbeaten international window for Zidane's squad.
Zidane's Bold Rotation and Debut Stars Prove Decisive
Zidane made 10 changes to France's starting XI, introducing Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes as debutants. The Guardian noted that Ousmane Dembélé captained the team in place of injured Kylian Mbappé, signaling the depth Zidane has at his disposal despite missing his star forward.
Belgium, meanwhile, were without suspended midfielders Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans—key architects of their attack. theScore reported that Belgium's goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt also made his senior debut, but could not prevent the late collapse. France's ability to transform the match after 60 minutes underscored Zidane's tactical flexibility and the quality of his bench.
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