The match between Belgium and France was rather stingy in chances. The French media deplored the frigidity of both teams.
It took an own goal to Jan Vertonghen to separate the Blues from the Red Devils. A stroke of fate, it took that to unlock a match that was heading straight for extra time.
The French media pointed out several shortcomings in both camps. L’Equipe wrote: “This Euro round of 16 reflected the limits and ambitions of two blocs obsessed above all with solidity.”
France at the end of boredom
On the So Foot side, which titles its summary “France crumbles Belgium”, the match is described as “a neighbours’ party that wasn’t one” or as “an awkward moment. The first act was particularly soporific: “The first half didn’t look like much, and even less like a Euro eighth final”.
The media uses humor to describe its disappointment with the performance of several Belgian executives, in particular Kevin De Bruyne : “Luckily he’s all red when he’s on the field, otherwise he’d be transparent.”
The results are barely better for Jérémy Doku : “It’s frustrating to always have Doku ahead and then end up doing nothing with him. A genius misunderstood by his own people.” Despite the merits of Domenico Tedesco’s plan, Belgium didn’t gain much credit on the international scene during this match, and even less during the Euro.
