An own goal by Belgian Vertonghen, five minutes from the end of the match, on a shot by Kolo Muani, was enough to reach the quarter-finals.
Our analysis and the best photos of the meeting.
On March 26th of this year, spring was just beginning, the weather was already not good, but this date has another indication that takes on more than one meaning today: it is the last goal conceded in play, in a match, even if it was friendly.
It was against Chile, Dario Osorio will surely soon receive a medal, a diploma, a silver ball (we are not going to exaggerate), he is the last opponent to have scored a goal against the French team!
Because since that distant match played at the Vélodrome, nothing, nada, not a single little goal, yes, sorry, there is Lewandowski’s goal, on penalty, taken twice, on a match that counted for nothing, since then, the French defense has been disgusting the attackers, the initiatives, the intentions. How many times will it be necessary to repeat it, we always start a training session by taking care of our defense, if a team has a good defense, it can go far, if this defense is intractable, it will not be far from the title. Enough to bring the “seum” …
The match was not the one we will tell our grandchildren about, it must be admitted, it was soporific. The Belgians and the French played above all not to lose, not to concede this goal which, given the stats, would have been fatal. Dédé proposes an interesting (on paper) 4x3x3 with captain Mbappé starting in his favorite position, the left wing and the Mâconnais Griezmann on the opposite side, leaving baby Thuram at the point.
The midfield is the expected one, Rabiot, Kanté and Tchouaméni. Behind, the best defense (it doesn’t come from us, it comes from March 26, 2024) in the world.
Opposite, Tedesco, the Italian coach of the “red devils” also bet on an iron defense, leaving the physical strength of Lukaku in front with the inventiveness of De Bruyne. The two “stars” will only reveal themselves sporadically, worse, Tedesco waited until the 88th minute to bring on de Ketelaere, surely the best Belgian today. There is no doubt that in Brussels, this choice will be discussed at length.
The first half gave the measure of the match, the Belgians leaving the ball to the French, low pace, no initiative, no risk. Thuram’s header, on a good cross from Koudé (still very good), made all the Walloons and the Flemish tremble (34th).
On the Belgian side, De Bruyne was expected, we saw Doku, the Belgian left winger who often tried to put the French defense in difficulty, it was he who would provoke the yellow cards for Griezmann in the first half, and Rabiot in the second. One player would always get the upper hand on the fiery “citizen”, Koundé. The Barcelona player on one side and what about Théo Hernandez? His save, at the feet of Castagne who had gone on the counterattack, was absolutely beautiful (64th).
The match was about to change, money time was ringing. It was the Belgians who had the balls, the first Lukaku, who entered the area, his shot was intercepted by Maignan (70th), then by captain De Bruyne, even better placed than his attacking buddy, Maignan deflected, once again (82nd).
These were the last Belgian cartridges, France was going to strike, just once: in the area, Kolo Muani, who had come on in place of Thuram (we can already hear the remarks…), shot and the ball was deflected, fatally, by Vertonghen who beat his own goalkeeper. 1-0, that would be enough to play Portugal (or Slovenia). All the teams that win have a great defense, a star and a great scorer. All that is missing is this last parameter which, we are convinced, will soon wake up, or drop its mask if you prefer.
A curiosity, Didier Deschamps certainly expected extra time, he only made one change during the 90 minutes, only bringing on the one who would cause the goal.
Vincent BRUCCI
(Photos Agence REUTERS)
In Dusseldorf, France beats Belgium 1-0 (0-0)
Arbitre Glenn Nyberg
Goal for France, Vertonghen (own goal) 85th
France: Maignan, Koundé, Hernandez, Upamecano, Saliba, Tchouaméni, Kanté, Rabiot, Thuram (Kolo Muani), Griezmann and Mbappé©
Belgium : Casteels, Castagne (Lukébakio), Theate, Faes, Vertonghen, Onana, Carrasco (de Ketelaere), De Bruyne©, Doku, Openda and Lukaku
: France, in force, eliminates Belgium){kind=link}