France secured a 2-0 victory over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League, bouncing back from their recent defeat to Italy. Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals that helped the French team recover on Monday.
Goals from Kolo Muani and Dembele
France, playing in Lyon, won the match with two goals—one from Randal Kolo Muani and the other from Ousmane Dembele. This win followed a disappointing 3-1 loss to Italy just days earlier. Although France scored first in that match against Italy, they were unable to hold onto the lead.
Ousmane Dembele celebrated his second goal for France in this match, giving the team a much-needed win in the UEFA Nations League.
Changes in the French Team
Coach Didier Deschamps made eight changes to the team that lost to Italy. One of the key changes was the absence of captain Kylian Mbappe, who was rested for this game.
France’s loss to Italy came despite scoring within 13 seconds, while Belgium entered this game after defeating Israel 3-1. The win brought relief to Deschamps, especially after a slow start in the first 20 minutes of the match.
Deschamps’ Reaction
“I’m really pleased with how we reacted after the last game. Belgium is a strong team, and they gave us some trouble early on, but we managed to settle down,” said Deschamps, who received mixed reactions from the crowd when his name was announced.
Despite the win, Deschamps added, “Friday’s performance wasn’t terrible, and I won’t say that everything is perfect now.“
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How the Game Unfolded
This match mirrored their Euro 2024 last-16 encounter, where France won 1-0 against Belgium thanks to an own goal. On Monday, Kolo Muani opened the scoring just before 30 minutes, finishing after Dembele’s mishit shot was blocked by Belgium’s goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Belgium, led by Kevin De Bruyne, could not find a response, and France sealed the win with Dembele’s solo goal in the 57th minute. Dembele cut in from the right side and fired a powerful left-footed shot into the net.
Strong Bench Boosts France
Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and Michael Olise came off the bench for France in the second half, helping the team close out the game and secure the victory. This win gave the French squad a confidence boost after their earlier loss to Italy.
Group Standings
Italy remains on top of Group A2 with six points after beating Israel 2-1. France and Belgium both have three points, while Israel is at the bottom with no points. The next round of matches will take place in October, with Italy facing Belgium in Rome and Israel playing France in Budapest.
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