The Red Devils were beaten 1-2 by France for the 4th day of Group A2 of the Nations League, Monday at the King Baudouin stadium. Belgium suffered a fifth defeat in a row against the Blues.
Belgium took the game into their own hands from the kick-off, pushed by a sold-out Heysel. Youri Tielemans was the first to worry Mike Maignan (1st), then imitated by Loïs Openda (13th) and Leandro Trossard (17th).
Openda hurt with his speed and won a penalty for a foul by William Saliba when he went alone on goal. Tielemans took responsibility but the captain propelled the ball over (23rd).
Dominated until then, France then came out of its box and also received a penalty for a hand fault from Wout Faes, transformed by Randal Kolo Muani (35th, 0-1). The Belgian players attacked the French goal again and were finally rewarded thanks to a header from Openda on a cross from Timothy Castagne (45th + 3, 1-1).
The Blues were more enterprising in the second half and Manu Koné’s goal was canceled by the VAR for a hand fault by Kolo Muani (60th). The PSG striker then made amends by restoring France’s lead with a cross header (62nd, 1-2).
The exclusion of Aurélien Tchouameni (76th) changed nothing at the end of the match despite a last opportunity for Openda in stoppage time.
The Devils will play their last two group matches in November with the reception of Italy at the King Baudouin stadium (November 14) followed by a trip to Hungary to face Israel on neutral ground (November 17).
