the Blues send the Red Devils home and reach the quarter-finals of the Euro

The France team beat Belgium (1-0) this Monday and qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 played in Germany. After numerous shots off target, the Blues made the difference with an own goal from Jan Vertonghen on a deflected shot from Randal Kolo Muani.

France remains Belgium’s bête noire. After the 2018 World Cup and the 2021 Nations League, the Blues beat the Red Devils again this Monday in the round of 16 of Euro 2024 (1-0).

At the end of a suspenseful and rather stressful match, if not always spectacular, deliverance came from an own goal by Jan Vertonghen. Unlucky, the Belgian defender deflected a shot from Randal Kolo Muani into his goal. Kylian Mbappé’s partners will challenge the winner of the eighth between Portugal and Slovenia.

>> Relive France-Belgium (1-0)

The Blues still struggling in attack

The first real opportunity finally arrived on Mike Maignan’s goal. On a free kick taken from the left side of the area, Kevin De Bruyne came close to opening the scoring. His cross-shot that no one managed to deflect almost deceived “Magic Mike” but the French goalkeeper made a nice (unacademic) save with his foot to ward off the danger (0-0, 24th).

On the French side, there are few offensive actions to take in other than a header from Marcus Thuram. Relatively little found, the Inter and Blues striker failed to get on target (0-0, 34th). For the rest, nothing or almost nothing, Aurélien Tchouaméni’s long shot narrowly missing (0-0, 39th). The Real Madrid midfielder once again gave a slight shiver but his heavy shot went far above (0-0, 45th+1). If France had eight shots on goal before the break, only one attempt found the target of a relatively untroubled Koen Casteels.

Hernandez and Maignan saved France

Ineffective, the Blues still showed more than the Belgians. Apart from Kevin De Bruyne’s strike, the Red Devils were mostly content to defend. Despite a very attacking eleven on paper, Domenico Tedesco’s protégés often played with eleven men in their own half of the pitch and Jérémy Doku’s flashes of brilliance were not enough to make the difference.

As against Poland, the French continued to insist after the break. On a nice shot from Aurélien Tchouaméni, slightly deflected by Wout Faes, Koen Casteels deflected well for a corner. A few moments later, Marcus Thuram again missed the target with his header (0-0, 51st). Quite little in sight until then, Kylian Mbappé then overtook the Belgian defense but sent his attempt above the cages.

The French strikes multiplied but without hitting the target and Belgium almost took advantage. Without a sensational tackle from Théo Hernandez in his area, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco would have found himself alone at close range against Mike Maignan (0-0, 61st).

Kolo Muani (well helped) delivered France

A little later, it was the French goalkeeper’s turn to shine. First on a strike from Romelu Lukaku (0-0, 70th) then especially on a big strike from Kevin De Bruyne in the last minutes of regulation time (0-0, 83rd).

The Belgians tried to make the difference at the end of the match but were ultimately trapped. On a well-managed counterattack by N’Golo Kanté, Jules Koundé temporized and found Randal Kolo Muani in the Belgian area. By managing to turn and strike, the PSG striker forced Jan Vertonghen to score an own goal (1-0, 85th). A fairly logical goal that rewards the overall domination of the Blues. France will face the winner of the eighth between Portugal and Slovenia, Friday July 5 at 9 p.m.