Michael Olise’s magnificent late strike gave France a 1-0 victory in Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday as Zinedine Zidane made it two wins out of two since being named coach.
Bayern Munich star Olise, who was one of the outstanding players at the World Cup in which France reached the semi-finals, came off the bench late on with the game in Brussels goalless, and set off from inside his own half to score the winner in the 88th minute.
The win follows a 1-0 success away to Turkey last Friday in Zidane’s first game at the helm after succeeding Didier Deschamps as coach following the World Cup.
France are therefore top of Nations League Group A1 with six points, three points ahead of Belgium and Italy, with the latter winning 4-1 in Turkey on Monday.
Les Bleus play host to Italy next at the Stade de France on Friday on what will be Zidane’s homecoming. France will then entertain Belgium next Monday.
Zidane was without captain Kylian Mbappe here with the Real Madrid striker having returned to his club for treatment after injuring his left knee while scoring the winner against Turkey.
The French line-up at the King Baudouin Stadium showed nine changes, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix the only players to keep their places.
There was notably a debut in midfield for Lucas Da Cunha of Como in Italy, as well as in attack for Esteban Lepaul of Rennes, the top scorer in France’s Ligue 1 last season.
Belgium, in contrast, made only two changes to the team that started last Friday’s 2-0 win in Italy for what was new coach Mark van Bommel’s home bow.
France had the better of the chances with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue cracking a shot off the bar in the first half and Da Cunha striking the post early in the second half.
But the contest was heading to an unremarkable goalless conclusion until Olise intervened, having been sent on in the 77th minute in place of Liverpool winger Bradley Barcola.
The London-born player collected possession inside his own half and advanced all the way to the edge of the Belgian box before curling a shot beyond the reach of Senne Lammens into the bottom-left corner of the net.
AFP
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