For more than 80 minutes in Brussels, France found Belgium’s resistance impossible to break. Then Michael Olise took matters into his own hands. His solo run and 88th-minute finish secured a 1-0 Nations League victory on Monday, and sparked an unforgettable reaction from new France coach Zinédine Zidane on the touchline.
Zidane was already moving as Olise began his dribble, sprinting in front of the French bench as if he were carrying the attack himself. When the goal arrived, the former France number 10 continued his run down the technical area before driving a fierce kick into a spare ball lying near the sideline.
The 1998 World Cup winner, who also enjoyed a distinguished playing and coaching career at Real Madrid, said afterwards that he had sensed the decisive moment before Olise completed it.
“As soon as I saw him start the dribble, I knew he was going to score,” Zidane said after the match. “I went with him when I saw him go. I was fully with him.”
Olise’s late individual effort ended a frustrating evening for Les Bleus, who had been held at bay by Belgium for most of the contest. The goal finally gave France the reward their pressure had not produced earlier in the game.
Smiling as the footage of his celebration was replayed, Zidane made light of the moment alongside former France teammate Bixente Lizarazu. But his dash beside the pitch told the fuller story: France’s new manager had lived every stride of Olise’s match-winning run.
