Belgium – France – The notes of the Blues: The executioner Randal Kolo Muani, the balls of WIlliam Saliba

After an average match against Israel, the boss is back. He warmed his gloves in front of Tielemans (1st, 55th) and Trossard (18th). Then he gained momentum with a big save on the ground on a tense shot (66th), a free kick from Trossard (77th) before the reflex which changed everything at the near post in the last seconds of the match. Of course, we still haven’t understood his poorly controlled exit (78th) but for the rest…

He leaves the centerman too much time on Openda’s goal and he generally lacked sharpness in his interventions. Koundé fell asleep a little after a first period where the danger was systematically on the opposite side. And we would like him to give more in attack.

• In short… Too quiet.

His match got off to a bad start. Caught by a call at the near post from Openda (13th), he seemed curiously destabilized as on this ball lost in the middle (18th) which could have been costly. But he recovered by gaining the upper hand over Openda (27th) and during a second period where his physical superiority ended up serving him.

• In short… We feared the worst but Konaté pulled himself together.

What a painful evening for the Arsenal defender… Saliba caused big problems for his defense with faulty alignment on too many Belgian transitions. On the action of the penalty, he not only mows down Openda, he also covers him. It is he, too, who loses the ball on the Belgian equalizer before forgetting the Leipzig striker behind his back. He still covers Tielemans (55th) on a dubious alignment. A loss of the ball which he could have done without (29th) and, overall, a very steep addition even if he cuts off a hot cross at the last minute (90th +5).

• In short… Completely backwards.

His match started so badly. Constantly overwhelmed by Doku, abandoned by Barcola, the former Lille player suffered Belgian attacks. Pushed into error or overwhelmed by Doku’s speed, he did not give up and was dangerous on each of his incursions. It is he who places the ball from the second goal on the head of Kolo Muani (62nd). Doku moved to the left in the second half and Digne took a breather.

The captain abandoned his flock after a gross foul on Tielemans and a second yellow card (76th). An outcome which sanctions a very average match where he initially lacked impact and poorly protected his defense. Much less sharp than against Israel, he seemed to endure the debates until his expulsion.

• In short… First captain excluded from the French team since a certain Zinedine Zidane.

He had difficulty finding his place and suffered from the Belgian momentum. He sometimes put out the fire on a few interventions (12th) but it was he who lost the ball on the action which led to the Belgian penalty (20th). More dense after the half hour of play, he could even have opened his counter without a hand from Kolo Muani (59th).

• In short… He gained momentum.

He did not bring the same energy as during his sensational debut against Israel. His messy first period did France no favors like this loss of ball in the middle (27th) which could have caused harm if Konaté had not saved the nation. The former Marseillais worked harder after the break with more rational placement and better channeled energy.

Replaced by Eduardo Camavinga (74th).

Three balls hit in the first 20 minutes (!) and a warhead thrown at Koné which led to the Belgian penalty. After 30 minutes upside down, he came to his senses by adjusting a few crosses. Sharper after the break, he found spaces in the heart of the game, too bad he didn’t fit after a nice ride (57th).

• In short… An honorable reaction.

Replaced by Youssouf Fofana (79th).

For a long time, he was the most restless of the French attackers. His magical control, his devastating hook but his too-gentle shot (26th) started the match for the Blues. The Parisian caused the penalty on a new soloist number then he gradually disappeared. Less bloody, he even spoiled an interesting counterattack with one dribble too many (52nd). Defensively, his contribution ended up relieving Digne.

• In short… He lacked consistency.

Replaced by Eduardo Camavinga (74th).

How can he be so self-effacing in Paris and so hot in the French team? This success is first and foremost his because, with the crumbs he had to make do with, he scored a double. First on a perfect counter-foot from the penalty spot (35th) then on a header after a sharp call at the near post (62nd). He shone in a real role of 9. For the moment, Olivier Giroud’s successor is him.

• In short… Three goals and another against his camp caused in three matches against Belgium. Own.

Replaced by Marcus Thuram (90th).