On Monday, France bounced back from a sluggish start to defeat neighboring Belgium 2-0. Randal Kolo Muani’s close-range effort and Ousmane Dembele’s precise left-footed strike earned them their first points in the Nations League.
Showing determination, France shook up their squad with eight changes, including resting Kylian Mbappe, following a 3-1 loss to Italy in Paris just last Friday in their initial League A Group 2 match.
Initially, the visitors pressed hard, but the French took control after settling into the game.
“We were jittery at the beginning, but we pulled it together. Both individually and as a team, particularly with fresh players who lack experience,” remarked France’s coach Didier Deschamps.
Belgium’s manager, Domenico Tedesco, admitted pre-game that his team had been too cautious when they lost 1-0 to France in the Euros’ last 16 in Duesseldorf 70 days ago.
This time, however, Belgium started strong, fashioning chances for Lois Openda in an energetic opening before France found their groove.
In the 29th minute, Kolo Muani seized the lead for the home team. Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels could only deflect Dembele’s mishit shot, allowing the Paris St Germain striker to pounce and score.
Dembele, consistently a threat, earned his goal in the 57th. Darting along the edge of the box, he carved out a shot and sent it whistling past Casteels.
“People tell me I’m too generous and that I pass too much. I decided to have a go myself,” Dembele shared with French TF1 television. “This season, I’m going to take more chances and be more selfish.”
TAME EFFORTS
Belgium’s chances were limited until Charles De Ketelaere’s 69th-minute introduction. He registered a shot swiftly, followed by two ineffective attempts from an otherwise frustrated Kevin De Bruyne.
“We played with the right mentality only in the first and last 25 minutes,” Tedesco admitted to reporters. “Everything else fell short. France stayed composed and overpowered us with their strength.”
Mbappe entered the fray in the 67th minute alongside Bradley Barcola, who switched from Olympique Lyonnais to PSG last season, earning jeers from the local crowd.
Although Mbappe looked eager to score, his close-range shot missed narrowly, and Casteels saved another attempt in the 86th minute.
Elsewhere, Italy claimed a 2-1 victory against Israel in Budapest, giving them a three-point lead. Belgium, who defeated Israel 3-1 in Hungary last Friday for safety reasons, are tied with second-place France on three points.
By Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; editing by Pritha Sarkar
