Michael Olise produced a late individual masterclass as France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels, sealing a second successive away win in UEFA Nations League A Group 1 and sending Zinédine Zidane's side clear at the top on six points.
Match facts
- Result: Belgium 0-1 France (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: UEFA Nations League A, Group 1, Matchday 2
- Venue: King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
- Scorers: France - Olise 88'
- Red cards: None
- Next: Türkiye v Belgium; France v Italy (Friday 2 October)
How the match unfolded
France arrived without captain Kylian Mbappé, still sidelined by the left-knee problem that cut short his involvement after scoring the winner against Türkiye on Matchday 1. Zidane rotated heavily: only Mike Maignan and Maxence Lacroix retained their places from that opening win, with Bradley Barcola, Désiré Doué and Esteban Lepaul leading the attack.
Belgium, under Mark van Bommel and fresh from a 2-0 win in Rome, started with Kevin De Bruyne in the No.10 role and Charles De Ketelaere as the focal point. Kick-off was delayed briefly while France adjusted their socks, and Belgian fans whistled through the French anthem, but once play began Les Bleus controlled the ball.
In the 12th minute Doué produced the night's first flash of brilliance, skipping past two challenges before rattling the crossbar with a left-footed shot. Around the 20th minute Barcola went down under contact from Nathan Ngoy in the area, but referee Rade Obrenović played on. Senne Lammens then had to be sharp from a Maghnes Akliouche free-kick in the 27th minute, and Roméo Lavia cleared Pierre Kalulu's rebound almost off the line.
Belgium offered less in open play before the break. De Bruyne and Mika Godts probed without forcing Maignan into a genuine first-half save, and the teams went in scoreless.
After the restart France kept asking questions. Doué curled wide in the 51st minute, Lucas Da Cunha smashed a left-footed effort against the post from distance in the 53rd, and Lammens denied Doué again soon after as Lepaul just failed to turn in the rebound. Van Bommel introduced Dodi Lukébakio and Hans Vanaken just after the hour, and later Maxim De Cuyper, as Belgium tried to force a late opening.
Zidane answered with Ousmane Dembélé for Lepaul, then Olise and Rayan Cherki for Barcola and Akliouche with 13 minutes left. The decisive moment arrived in the 88th minute. Cherki found Olise inside the French half; the Bayern Munich winger drove clear, cut inside onto his left foot and slid a precise finish inside Lammens's near post. Zidane celebrated on the touchline as France protected the lead through stoppage time, with Malick Fernandez-Pardo's late effort for Belgium sailing off target.
What it means for Group 1
France sit alone on six points after back-to-back 1-0 away wins. Belgium drop to three points alongside Italy, who recovered from their opening defeat with a 4-1 win in Bursa on the same evening. Türkiye remain on zero after that heavy loss. The result also extends Belgium's long winless run against Les Bleus in official matches.
What happens next
France host Italy in Paris on Friday 2 October, while Belgium travel to face Türkiye. Both fixtures will sharpen the Group 1 picture before the October window closes.