France roar back to beat Belgium 4-1, sit atop in Nations League Group A1
Zinedine Zidane’s France concluded their marathon international break with a stunning comeback 4-1 victory against Belgium at the Stade de France to sit atop their Nations League group.
France scored four goals in 14 second-half minutes as they came from behind to stun Belgium. Dodi Lukebakio had given the visitors the lead when he slotted home in the first period.
Zidane utilised his star-studded bench after the break and saw his side click into top gear as Desire Doue and Rayan Cherki turned the tide with a quickfire double. Michael Olise then added two more late on as France maintained their unbeaten record in Group A1.
Alone in midfield in his own half on the 35th minute, Romeo Lavia found Dodi Lukebakio with a through ball. The French defence were caught off guard, and the Belgian winger went one-on-one with Guillaume Restes, who won by sending the ball into the top right corner of the French goalkeeper’s net.
In the 77th minute, Lucas Da Cunha found Doue in the center. The Parisian turned, shifted onto his left foot and found the side netting with a low, angled shot despite a forest of Belgian legs in front of him to equalise 1-1.
Michael Olise then cuts inside past Joaquin Seys, entered the penalty area, and crossed low back for Rayan Cherki, who finishes with his left foot. The Belgian goalkeeper got a touch but can’t prevent the ball from going in the goal post as France took 2-1 lead.
Olise then electrified the Stade de France by scoring a quickfire brace (88th minute and 90+1 minute) from two assists by Doue.
In fourteen minutes, the trio of substitutes had Belgium reeling, having lost both legs of the tie (1-0). And so, Les Bleus, unbeaten as they kick off the Zinédine Zidane era (3 wins, 1 draw).
Italy, Sweden and Latvia claim important wins
Italy moved up to second in their group with a 3-1 win over Turkey in Bologna, as goals from Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori, and Pio Esposito secured the victory despite Aral Simsir’s second-half equaliser.
Manager Roberto Mancini acknowledged fatigue within his squad but praised their quick response to keep momentum alive in their rebuilding effort.
In Group B2, Northern Ireland stayed top after a 0-0 draw with Georgia following Giorgi Mamardashvili’s late penalty save against Isaac Price, while Hungary moved within a point by beating Ukraine 2-1.
In Group B4, Viktor Gyökeres scored in his seventh straight Nations League match to earn Graham Potter’s Sweden a 1-0 win in Romania, keeping them two points clear of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Poland 1-0.
Elsewhere, Marcus Edwards scored a late winner in Cyprus’s 2-1 victory over Latvia, while Montenegro and Armenia drew 0-0.
