The French team recovered well by finding its offensive momentum to beat Belgium (2-0), three days after its shipwreck against Italy (3-1), Monday September 9 in Lyon in the Nations League.
Without Kylian Mbappé, a substitute like Antoine Griezmann, two attackers who do not score enough have revived the Blues, Randal Kolo Muani (29th) and Ousmane Dembélé 57th). France joins its opponent with 3 points, behind Italy (6 pts), who beat Israel (2-1), and the pressure is reduced on Didier Deschamps, widely whistled by the Stade Lyonnais when the team line-ups were announced.
The coach will be able to prepare more calmly for the next two trips in October, to Budapest against Israel and to Brussels for the return match.
The Blues maintain their ascendancy over the Red Devils, who were beaten for the fourth time in a row in competition, with the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup (1-0) and the 2021 Nations League (3-2), then the round of 16 this summer in Germany (1-0).
Above all, they are getting back to their standards a little. Martyred by Italy, the defense held up this time. Deschamps, who wanted to rotate over these two September matches, had put his Euro 2024 rearguard at 4/5ths. The Dayot Upamecano-William Saliba hinge contained the Belgian attacking quartet, and Jules Koundé once again completely muzzled Jérémy Doku on his right side.
Mike Maignan was vigilant when he needed to be, like this strike from Charles De Keteleare (70).
Kolo Muani and Dembélé scorers
Only the returning Lucas Digne, on the left in place of Théo Hernandez, suffered against Dodi Lukébakio for his first match with the national team for 27 months.
- RFI
