In Belgium, with the result still hanging in the cold night air, Pierre Kalulu found the release France needed. Michael Olise’s goal settled a 1-0 Nations League win, but for the right-back the greater message came from a heavily changed side showing it could control the occasion.
A rotated France side answers Zidane’s call
France made nine changes from the victory in Turkey for their second Nations League match, handing an opportunity to several less experienced players. Kalulu said Zinédine Zidane had made the tactical demands clear before kick-off and had given the whole squad confidence.
- Zidane asked France to keep technical control of the ball.
- The plan was to stretch Belgium’s shape, switching play from one flank to the other.
- France were instructed to vary short combinations with longer passes.
- In the final third, the players were encouraged to attack without restraint.
Kalulu felt the team delivered much of that plan. “We tried to move well together, connect with each other and keep looking for one another,” he said. “There are always things to improve, but overall it was a good performance.”
The defender was not taken aback by France’s degree of dominance. He said the quality within the group had been evident to him long before this match, with intelligent, technically strong players throughout the defence, midfield and forward line.
“When the players understand the game and work hard, it becomes easier to find each other,” Kalulu said. “With more habits built between us, it can become even better.”
Kalulu sees competition across the 23-man group
Kalulu had hoped to feature during the international window and said the extensive rotation underlined Zidane’s faith in the entire 23-player squad.
The coach’s message, Kalulu explained, was that every player would have a chance and that no one had been selected merely to make up the numbers.
- Kalulu said Zidane has complete trust in his players.
- The squad have been told they will receive opportunities.
- Players are expected to create positive selection problems for the coach.
- Kalulu believes experience at international level does not change the fundamentals once the match starts.
“It is still football,” he said. “The pitch is the same and the ball is the same. When we play, we want to show what we can do.”
Olise goal brings relief and a clean sheet
France’s pressure finally brought the decisive moment through Olise, whose goal gave the visitors a 1-0 win in Belgium. For Kalulu, it was a strike that lifted more than just the scoreboard.
“It was excellent,” he said of Olise’s finish. “When you keep attacking, you can leave yourself a little more open. As a defender, keeping a clean sheet means a lot, and when Michael scored it was a real relief. I have to thank him.”
The result gave France another victory in the Nations League, while Kalulu left Belgium convinced that a changed team had offered only an early glimpse of what the group could become.
