France 1-0 Belgium
France are through to the quarter finals of Euro 2024 after they squeezed past Belgium thanks to a late own goal from centre back Jan Vertonghen.
Neither team would have asked for this fixture so early in the competition but they got it together at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf; and it was a tense war of attrition. Didier Deschamps’ France dominated for much of the game but Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium hung on in and could have snuck ahead before Les Bleus eventually broke through.
It wasn’t pretty but France deserved the win after working hard and staying the course, while Belgium, the perennial underachievers are on their way home.
Highlights of the game
Having missed out on top spot at the group stage France were keen to exert their authority in this game and they came out with clear intent, Adrien Rabiot hooking a shot wide as early as the second minute. Belgium seemed happy to sit back and absorb the France pressure and with some success, as only a tame shot from Antoine Griezmann gave Red Devils keeper Koen Casteels anything to do in the early exchanges.
Griezmann was pulling the strings for France, linking up well with Kylian Mbappe but Les Bleus lacked a cutting edge and frustration started to creep in as Aurelien Tchouameni was booked for dissent after the referee wrongly awarded Belgium a goal-kick. He was followed into the ref’s book by Griezmann, who put in a robust challenge on Jeremy Doku, and Rabiot for another late tackle, meaning the midfield anchor would be missing for the next match. France continued to press and Theo Hernandez and Marcus Thurman both missed the target with good chances as France had plenty of possession but with no end result as the teams went in for the half time break level at 0-0.
The 2018 World Cup winners are one of the favourites to win Euro 2024 but France were yet to click into gear.
Les Bleus nudged up a gear in the second half though and pushed hard for the opener, Tchouameni forcing a good save out of Casteels and Mbappe blazing over when he had left the Belgium defence for dead. But the Red Devils can be dangerous and when Yannick Carrasco took advantage of a William Saliba error only a brilliant last ditch tackle from Hernandez kept the scores level; and then Romelu Lukaku tested Mike Maignan with a low shot from a cut back.
It looked like the match was heading for extra time and then, as often happens, a twist of fate ended the contest. France’s goal was made by substitute Randal Kolo Muani as he turned Jan Vertonghen, and then his shot flicked the knee of the Belgium and flew into the net leaving Casteel’s helpless.
It wasn’t the way France would have hoped to win it, but a win’s a win and Les Bleus still have time to find their best form.
Key statistics
These two teams are second and third in the FIFA rankings but Belgium had very little to offer in the first half, other than successfully frustrating a toothless France. Les Blues had 60 per cent possession, nine shots to one, but only one to nil on target and crucially the score was precisely 0-0.
It was 45 minutes totally bereft of action worthy of Euro 2024 highlights and surely the second half could only get better!
Well it did, just about, and we eventually got a result. The final shot count read 19 to five in France’s favour but both teams registered just two shots on target; and that tells you all you need to know about a game which was high on tension and little on attacking quality.
What’s next?
The Euro 2024 betting odds here at SBOTOP have backed Didier Deschamps’ France as one of a few potential winners from the off and they are still in the game and with more to surely come.
Meanwhile, holders Italy are out of the competition after surrendering to Switzerland on Saturday while Germany, England and Spain are all through and next up, Portugal play Slovenia on Monday night with the two final Round of 16 clashes on Tuesday night. Romania play the Netherlands while dark horses Austria take on Turkey.
France will meet the winners of the Portugal versus Slovenia clash. It could be Mbappe versus Cristiano Ronaldo and that would be worth watching; though Slovenia may have something to say about that.
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