This Monday (6 p.m.), the Blues meet the Red Devils in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 for the 76e times in their history. A look back at the most significant confrontations between the two teams.
France-Belgium. The 76e match. This Sunday (6 p.m.), the Blues face the Red Devils in the round of 16 of Euro 2024. A meeting that could mark memories. For the occasion, Le Figaro looks back at the three most notable confrontations between the two selections, from the oldest to the most recent.
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France-Belgium, match for 3rd place in the 1986 World Cup (4-2)
After the disappointment, the consolation. Eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1986 World Cup by Germany (2-0), in a one-sided match that was not – as some French people had hoped – the “revenge of Seville”, the French team faced Belgium on June 28, in the match for the 3e place. For the occasion, Henri Michel is spinning. Luis Fernandez, Alain Giresse and (especially) Michel Platini, to name a few, start on the substitutes’ bench. The Red Devils got off to a very good start by opening the scoring through Jan Ceulemans (11e). But the Blues came back just before the hour mark, with a goal from Jean-Marc Ferreri (27e)… And take the advantage just before the break thanks to Jean-Pierre Papin (43e). We thought then that they had done the hardest part. This was without counting on the determination of Guy Thys’ players. At 73e minute, Nico Claesen puts the two teams back on level terms. Everything will be decided in extra time. And in this little game, where the fatigue of an entire competition is felt, it is the French who prove to be the strongest. Bernard Genghini gives his team the advantage again in the 104th minutee minute of play, before Manuel Amoros scored the goal of the “break»a few minutes later, on penalty. A difficult but important victory. And a small consolation.
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France-Belgium, 2018 World Cup semi-finals (1-0)
The Belgian “seum”. On July 10, 2018, France – which had just defeated Argentina and Uruguay – found itself facing Belgium, in the semi-finals of the World Cup in Russia, in a match that felt like a final before its time . The Belgians, carried by a whirling Eden Hazard, dominate in terms of possession; they also appear more dangerous, without providing many clear opportunities. The Blues of the pragmatic Didier Deschamps bend their backs, as they know how to do so well, and try to take advantage of the slightest enemy error, either on counter-attacks or on set pieces. And it was on a corner on the right side, shortly after returning from the locker room, that they made the difference. Antoine Griezmann hits it at the near post and Samuel Umtiti emerges in front of Marouane Fellaini and places an unstoppable cross header. The FC Barcelona defender lets his joy burst with a little dance; a celebration that will be remembered. The Red Devils push to come back but come up against the compact block and the commitment of their opponents. France thus qualifies for the final – which it will win against Croatia (4-2) -, leaving Belgium in frustration. “We are losing against a team that is no better than us, and that does not play. I prefer to lose with this Belgium than to win with this France.”declared Thibaut Courtois after the meeting.
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Belgium-France, 2021 Nations League semi-finals (2-3)
Redemption. After a Euro 2020 – played in 2021 due to the health crisis – completely failed, with an elimination in the round of 16 against Switzerland (3-3, 4-5 after penalties), the French team has the opportunity to redeem himself by winning the Nations League. But before having the chance to add this (new) competition to their list of achievements, the Blues must get rid of Belgium, which (still) has a formidable team. Moreover, it is the Red Devils who have made the best start. And they manage to achieve their (beautiful) domination. Yannick Carrasco opens the scoring in the 37the minute of play, closing his right foot, leaving Hugo Lloris completely on the spot. In the process, Romelu Lukaku scored the goal of the “break»by playing Lucas Hernandez and striking hard with his weak foot, the right (40e). For many, the match was over. But the Blues never give up. Just after the hour mark, Karim Benzema – who had returned to the national team a few weeks earlier – sounded the revolt by reducing the score with a left-footed shot on the pivot (62e). A few minutes later, Kylian Mbappé equalized with a penalty obtained by Antoine Griezmann (69e). And at the very end of regulation time, on a rapid transition, Théo Hernandez offers victory to France with a powerful strike from the edge of the area. Stunning.
