Paris had a late-night surge of conviction on Monday as France turned a deficit into a 4-1 win over Belgium, strengthening their hold on Nations League Group A1 and moving closer to the quarter-finals.
Les Bleus were still 1-0 behind in the 77th minute before a remarkable finish transformed the match. Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise, who scored twice, delivered the goals in a comeback that underlined the momentum around Zinedine Zidane’s side.
Quick facts
- France beat Belgium 4-1 after trailing 1-0 with 77 minutes played.
- Michael Olise scored two goals; Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki added one each.
- The result left France top of Nations League Group A1.
- Under Zinedine Zidane, France have won three of four matches and drawn the other.
- Cherki has one goal and two assists in two starts during Zidane’s four games.
The victory arrived after pre-match scrutiny around Olise and Cherki. Questions had been raised over whether Bayern Munich forward Olise could become a leading figure for the national team, including a claim that he had not always appreciated some of Cherki’s actions in training during the last World Cup.
Cherki rejected that suggestion on X, calling it an invention, before addressing the matter after the Belgium match. The Manchester City No. 10 said he intended to respond more often because reports about players should not automatically be accepted as fact.
“We have an extraordinary group,” Cherki said. “People outside do not necessarily see what we experience internally, but I have rarely known a squad that works this well, from the first player to the last. We enjoy ourselves, and it shows on the pitch.”
The win over Belgium was France’s second against the same opponents in Zidane’s first four fixtures. His team have also beaten Turkey 1-0 and drawn 1-1 with Roberto Mancini’s new-look Italy at Saint-Denis.
With Cherki contributing a goal and two assists across his two starts, and Olise decisive in the latest Belgian meeting, the atmosphere around the French camp has shifted sharply. The route to the Nations League knockouts is now considerably clearer.
