In an exciting match with many twists and turns, the French team, which got off to a bad start, managed to get the better of the Red Devils (2-1).
Belgium – France: 1-2 final score
This is the end of this live, thank you for following it and have a good evening.
11:03 p.m. Didier Deschamps: “We got shaken up”
The coach’s analysis, on TF1: “We were shaken for 20-25 minutes. They put a lot of intensity and we made a lot of technical errors, took boxes (…) The penalty that they miss, it’s good for us (…) We were on tiptoe, and it’s not for lack of having warned the players (…) I’m happy to win this match, with forceps, but we must not take away the credit from the team which wins because we did much better in the second half”.
11 p.m. Author of six saves, Mike Maignan on his “launch”
“It’s a great evening, not an easy match with vengeful Belgians,” underlines Mike Maignan at the microphone of TF1. The goalkeeper had a big match with six saves, a record since the 2022 World Cup final during which Hugo Lloris achieved such a feat. “It’s good, it’s positive and building on what I’ve been doing lately.”
10:55 p.m. Ibrahima Konaté: “Enjoy because we suffered”
The Blues defender speaking to TF1: “We have to savor this victory because we suffered so much at the end, there were many saves. But we have to think about the things that weren’t good. I’m proud of everything the world, of the team. We tiptoed into the match, me first. At half-time, we knew how to talk to each other, we came back with a different state of mind.
It’s finished! Victory for the Blues (2-1)!!!!
The Belgians pushed in vain in the last, but the Blues hold on to their victory!
90’+3 Out of double scorer Randal Kolo Muani, replaced by Marcus Thuram
90′ There will be five minutes of added time
90′ Openda takes a cross, it’s deflected for a corner by Koundé!
88′ France holds the shock at the end of the match
Ibrahima Konaté keeps watch by intervening with his head on a dangerous incoming corner from Dodi Lukebakio.
82′ Lukebakio takes Ketelaere’s midfield place, Tielemans replaced by Engels
The captain’s armband goes to Leandro Trossard on the Belgian side.
78′ ???? Mike Maignan booked for obstructing a Belgian attacker outside the area
79′ Dembélé comes out for the benefit of Fofana
Tactical rebalancing for Didier Deschamps who takes out Ousmane Dembélé to densify the middle with Youssouf Fofana. Note that it was Ibrahima Konaté who took the captain’s armband to finish.
78′ Big strike from Trossard on the free kick that follows, Mike Maignan intervenes in two stages!
76′ ????????Second yellow for Tchouaméni, the captain excluded!
The Real midfielder collects a second yellow for a serious foul on Iouri Tielemans who was heading towards goal. The Blues will finish at 10!
1 – Aurélien Tchouaméni is the first player from the French team excluded since Jules Koundé in September 2021 (v Bosnia), and the first as captain at kick-off since Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 World Cup final. Painful. pic.twitter.com/0URIj0S8DV
— OptaJean (@OptaJean) https://twitter.com/OptaJean/status/1845924549528793465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
73′ For France: Camavinga replaces Guendouzi, Barcola comes out and Nkunku comes in
73′ The Blues respond with a shot from Digne that goes off target!
71′ Big Belgian reaction with Trossard!
Jeremy Doku accelerates on the right to serve Leandro Trossard on the left. The Arsenal player’s cross-shot cannot be taken by Loïs Openda!
67′ De Cuyper replaces Castagne, Vranckx takes Mangala’s place for Belgium
65′ Big shot from Zeno Debast, Mike Maignan quickly goes to bed to intervene!
62′ ⚽ BBUUUUUUUUUUUUTTTTT from Randal Kolo Muani !
On a cross from Lucas Digne, Randal Kolo Muani is quicker in the air to regain the lead: Koen Casteels is on the trajectory but cannot avoid the goal.
58′ Goal denied for Manu Koné!!!!
In two stages, Manu Koné manages to find the net. But in the action, Randal Kolo Muani touches the ball with his hand. After video verification, the referee decides to cancel the goal. We will have to wait for the first international achievement of the former Toulouse player.
56′ ???? Charles de Ketelaere also warned for a shirt pulling on Ousmane Dembélé
55′ Mike Maignan wins his duel against Iouri Tielemans!
Launched on the left side in depth, the Belgian midfielder is too short to worry Mike Maignan who comes out perfectly at the feet.
53′ ???? Yellow card for Wout Faes for a shirt pulling on Randal Kolo Muani
52′ Dembélé close to scoring the second French goal!
On a tricolor counter-attack, Ousmane Dembélé goes all the way up the field, and fires a curling left at the entrance to the area in front of the Belgian defense: narrowly wide!
48′ Les Bleus in the Belgian area, Jules Koundé tries from afar
The French team holds the ball and occupies the Belgian camp. Jules Koundé tries from afar but his shot does not find the target.
46′ Here we go again in Brussels, no changes on both sides
9:52 p.m. A “laborious” start to the match for Didier Deschamps
Coach Didier Deschamps, speaking to TF1 at half-time: “We had a very laborious first quarter of an hour, 20 minutes. We had difficulty keeping the balls. Afterwards it was better as soon as we go forward with the speed we have (…) Four yellow cards means we have to control our defensive movements a little more.”
Half time here in Brussels!
Jostled, the Blues did very well in this first period during which Iouri Tielemans missed a penalty. They can nevertheless blame themselves for having broken down a few seconds before the break after Randal Kolo Muani’s penalty goal. The first period was rhythmic, which bodes well for the rest of the evening.
45’+3 ⚽ Goal for Belgium!!!!!
Refused initially for an offside position, Loïs Openda’s goal is logically awarded by the referee. The attacker, on the verge but well and truly in a legal position, perfectly headed a cross from Timothy Castagne from the left at the penalty spot.
AFP
45′ ???? Konaté booked for a late foul on Castagne
45′ Big acceleration from Doku on the left side
The cross from the Manchester City player does not find a taker, the continuation of the action results in a corner, without impact for the Blues defense.
40′ The Blues much better since the opening score
Possession is now well in favor of Didier Deschamps’ men against the Belgians visibly stopped in their momentum.
⚽ 35′ Randal Kolo Muani’s shot!
The PSG striker does not tremble and takes Koen Casteels on the wrong foot. This is the 7th national goal for the former Nantes player. We can talk about a small hold-up for the Blues as the Belgians were better in the first half hour!
Penalty for France!!!!!!
Intervening to contain Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani, Wout Faes touches the ball with his elbow as it falls: the referee whistles a penalty!
32′ Strike from Manu Koné, blocked!
The Blues finally manage to hold the ball a little. Manu Koné strikes with first intention after a throw-back but his shot is blocked.
30′ Jeremy Doku tries from afar, wide!
29′ ???? First Belgian yellow card for Orel Mangala
The midfielder is booked after an intervention on Randal Kolo Muani.
27′ Ibrahima Konaté works to counter Loïs Openda!
Jeremy Doku and Loïs Openda cause a lot of misery for the Blues. The first launches the second who arms a strike well countered by Ibrahima Konaté.
25′ Bradley Barcola forces Casteels to make a good save!
The PSG striker tries to wake up the apathetic Blues. After a portmanteau check, the winger moves inside to curl nicely from the right but Koen Casteels does not let himself be surprised.
24′ ???? Tchouaméni’s turn to be warned
We already have three yellow cards in the French ranks!
23′ Iouri Tielemans’ miss from the penalty spot!!!!!!
The Belgian captain rushes and sends the ball over the cage! The Blues are well varnished.
PQR/Maxppp Olivier Matthys
20′ ????Penalty for Belgium! Yellow card for Saliba!
Launched deep after a serious loss of the French ball in midfield, Loïs Openda, not out of play after checking the VAR, is caught in the area by William Saliba. The Arsenal defender slips and causes a foul in the penalty area.
18′ Oh, Mike Maignan’s beautiful parade!
After a tumble on the left, Leandro Trossard delivers a nice shot which forces Mike Maignan to deploy in a beautiful manner.
17′ Finally an opportunity for the Blues with Barcola heading
At the far post from a corner taken by Lucas Digne on the left, Bradley Barcola then headed back into the tight corner: without danger for the Belgian goalkeeper.
15′ The Belgian pressure does not weaken: new corner for the Red Devils
France has only been defending for a few minutes. New sequence to manage with this corner well captured by Mike Maignan.
13′ Great opportunity for Openda!
On a cross from Iouri Tielemans from the right, the Leipzig striker volleys back into the fight with Ibrahima Konaté: his attempt misses Mike Maignan’s goal.
11′ It’s heating up in front of Maignan’s goal!
Untenable on his right side, Jeremy Doku plays Lucas Digne to send a low cross into the area: Loïs Openda is too short to take it!
9′ The Belgians press high
Like Orel Mangala who recovers a high ball, Belgium is more aggressive than the Blues in these first ten minutes.
7′ ???? Yellow card for Lucas Digne
The left side is penalized for a logical foul on Jeremy Doku, who was very mobile at the start of the match.
6′ First foray of the Blues
On the left side, Lucas Digne serves Bradley Barcola who sinks into the Belgian defense. No follow-up.
1′ First shot of the evening for Belgium
Mike Maignan is already called upon to shoot without much danger from Belgian captain Iouri Tielemans.
Let’s go to the King Baudoin stadium!
8:15 p.m. Didier Deschamps: “If the players are on rest days, they are free to do what they want”
The coach of the Blues spoke yesterday after the captain of the France team, not selected in the French group, was seen in festive places in Stockholm.
Also read:
VIDEO. Kylian Mbappé in Stockholm: “Night outing…” Didier Deschamps’ firm response on the player’s festive evening during Israel-France
8:10 p.m. The referee of the match will be Irjan Peljto
During the 2023-2024 season, the Bosnian Irfan Peljto (40 years old) was appointed central referee during the meeting between Leipzig and Real Madrid in the Champions League. The one who will be on the Belgium-France whistle this evening then made a controversial decision.
Also read:
VIDEO. Belgium-France: “It’s not football!” The referee targets a lot of criticism during his last Champions League match
8:05 p.m. The Blues with a 100% PSG attack
Here is the eleven concocted by Didier Deschamps, with the presence in particular of the former Toulousain Manu Koné: Maignan – Koundé, Saliba, Konaté, Digne – Guendouzi, Tchouaméni (cap.), Koné – Dembélé, Kolo Muani, Barcola.
8:00 p.m. Belgium’s eleven revealed
Here are the players who will start this evening for Belgium: Casteels – Debast, Faes, Theate, Castagne – Tielemans (cap.), Mangala – De Ketelaere, Trossard, Doku – Openda.
