The Belgian national team faced France in a UEFA Nations League clash where Zinedine Zidane’s squad secured a dramatic 1-0 victory via an 88th-minute goal from Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, leaving the visitors perfect at the top of Group A in League A.
France Secures Late Victory Over Belgium Without Kylian Mbappé
France entered their match against Belgium missing their star forward, Kylian Mbappé, who sustained an injury during a prior win over Turkey. Despite playing away and missing their talisman, Zinedine Zidane’s team controlled the pace with 65 percent possession and 18 total shots, including seven on target, while limiting the hosts to just two attempts.
The visitors nearly broke through early in the contest when Désiré Doué beat three defenders in a tight space and struck the crossbar of goalkeeper Sene Lammens just 11 minutes into the match. Belgium responded before halftime when Kevin De Bruyne fired a shot that drifted narrowly past Mike Maignan’s goalpost. Doué continued to test Lammens after the break with a sharp low effort, but the Belgian goalkeeper stood firm to keep the match scoreless.
Michael Olise Breaks the Deadlock in the 88th Minute
The breakthrough finally arrived late in the game when substitute Michael Olise made an immediate impact just 10 minutes after entering the pitch. Collecting a pass near the midfield stripe, the Bayern Munich player launched a powerful, rapid dribble that carried him all the way into the penalty box.
Olise capped his run by firing a sharp, low shot into the far corner past Sene Lammens to seal the 1-0 triumph. The dramatic late strike ensured that France maintained a flawless record through the first two matchdays, capturing the group summit.
Italy Overwhelms Turkey in a Four-Goal Away Display
While France battled for a tight win in Belgium, Italy rebounded from an earlier 2-0 defeat to route Turkey 4-1 during a rainy fixture away from home. Roberto Mancini’s squad capitalized on defensive miscues from the hosts right from the opening whistle.
Defender Alessandro Bastoni opened the scoring in the ninth minute by capitalizing on a poorly cleared corner kick under heavy rain to slide the ball into the upper net. Davide Frattesi doubled the lead in the 22nd minute by poking in a rebound following a save by the Turkish goalkeeper against Michael Kayode’s initial shot.
First-Half Flurry and Second-Half Conclusion Complete the Rout
Italy’s high press kept the pressure on the Turkish defense, leading directly to a third goal in the 27th minute. Quick passing around the danger area allowed Kayode to find space inside the box, where he converted his first goal in his international debut.
Turkey briefly narrowed the deficit two minutes into the second half when Barış Yılmaz scored following an error by Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. However, Francesco Pio Esposito restored the three-goal margin in the 50th minute with a powerful header, rounding off a dominant offensive performance.