In a thrilling encounter, France reasserted its footballing dominance over Belgium, signaling a triumphant new era under the newly appointed manager—global football legend Zinedine Zidane. Taking the reins from Didier Deschamps following their World Cup disappointment, Zidane instantly stamped his tactical identity on Les Bleus, relying on a bold, dynamic starting lineup.
France Starting XI:
- Goalkeeper: Restes
- Defenders: Koundé, Yoro, Lacroix, Diouf
- Midfielders: Akliouche, Camavinga, Koné
- Forwards: Dembélé, Lepaul, Barcola
Belgium Starting XI:
- Lineup: Vandevoordt, Castagne, Ngoy, Mitchell, De Cuyper, Raskin, Lavia, Moreira, Vanaken, Lukebakio, Lukaku
Played at a packed Stade de France in front of a roaring crowd of 75,389, the atmosphere was nothing short of electric. The match initially tilted in favor of the visitors when Belgium drew first blood, leaving many to believe the Red Devils had finally broken their psychological barrier against the French.
However, Les Bleus had other plans. In a dramatic final twenty minutes, Zidane’s tactical substitutions sparked a stunning late-match comeback. Supersub Michael Olise—who entered the pitch in the 60th minute—orchestrated the onslaught, scoring two goals and providing an assist. Désiré Doué matched the brilliance with a goal and two assists, alongside a stellar contribution from Rayan Cherki.
The final whistle confirmed a spectacular 3–3 turnaround, cementing France at the top of the group standings with 10 points and an undefeated record. Meanwhile, Belgium remains stuck on 6 points, having suffered two consecutive defeats at the hands of Zidane’s fierce battalion.
