At Euro 2024, France skimmed into the quarter-finals after clinching a 1-0 win against Belgium, courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal in the closing minutes.
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In spite of their tepid offensive performance, France snagged a crucial goal in the 85th minute, sealing their spot in the next round.
For Belgium, missed opportunities by Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne proved costly. Maignan repelled their efforts before a wayward strike from Randal Kolo Muani ricocheted off Vertonghen, dooming the Red Devils.
France now faces either Portugal or Slovenia, while Belgium exits the tournament after a lackluster outing in Germany.
Dusseldorf witnessed both sides kicking off with caution. Griezmann’s soft shot was the sole attempt on target in the initial half.
De Bruyne’s free-kick caused a stir in the French defense, requiring Maignan’s swift intervention.
Shortly after, Adrien Rabiot earned a suspension with a rash tackle on Jeremy Doku, his second yellow of the tournament.
Thuram narrowly missed with a header, and Tchouameni blasted over, rounding off the first half’s action.
Didier Deschamps rallied his squad at halftime. France responded by intensifying their pressure, leading to Casteels deflecting a Tchouameni strike.
Belgium’s maiden shot on goal arrived in the 69th minute, with Mangala finding Lukaku, though Maignan was up to the challenge.
The French keeper then thwarted De Bruyne’s distant attempt. Moments later, France broke the deadlock.
Kolo Muani’s weak shot, redirected by Vertonghen, found its unintended target, breezing past Casteels into the net.
Mbappe Chases Platini’s Record
Mbappe’s penalty against Poland was his inaugural Euro goal. With this, his tally at major international meets touches 13, looming just behind Michel Platini’s 14.
The prodigious forward unleashed five attempts this game, totaling 15 for the tournament, yet it was an own goal that overshadowed his contribution.
Persistent Hurdles
Both squads entered the knockout stages following uninspiring group performances. Falling back into old patterns, Belgium failed to elevate their game and bowed out unceremoniously.
Belgium’s poor shot conversion continued, with them netting just two from 48 attempts, mirroring France’s underwhelming precision.
In the first half, Belgium managed only a single shot, tying their lowest record in Euro history. This was last seen against Denmark in Euro 2020.
Lukaku’s frustrations persisted, as he failed to score, squandering prime opportunities through the tournament. His involvement was minimal, impacting Belgium’s offensive drive.
The forward managed a meager shot and merely two touches in the opposition’s area, struggling to leave a stamp on the game.
