Mbappé was sent to the bench! But France punished Tedesco’s team wonderfully even without him. Video
Kirill Zakatchenko September 9, 2024, 23:55 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Belgium suffered their first defeat in the Nations League and Kylian came on in the second half.
The Nations League is a great place to celebrate with its top-rated matches. This time we saw a new version of the Euro 2024 playoff match between France and Belgium.
A few days ago, the French failed at the Parc des Princes in a match against Italy. The home team scored in the first minute, but in the end lost 1:3. The coach of the French national team, Didier Deschamps, seriously changed the starting line-up. He made eight changes: only Mick Maignan, William Saliba and N’Golo Kanté kept their places in the starting eleven. Even such untouchable players as Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann sat on the bench.
We remember how France “got burned” in the match against Italy:
France scored in 14 seconds! But the match with Italy ended in complete disaster. Video
What about Belgium? In the first round, Domenico Tedesco’s team had to play Israel on a neutral pitch in Hungary. However, this did not prevent them from defeating their opponent 3:1. Tedesco seemed to be satisfied with what he saw, as he made only one change to the starting lineup. Maxime De Kuyper was dropped to the reserves and Zeno Debast appeared from the first minutes.
The start of the match was in the hands of the Belgian national team. The guests even created a couple of half-chances. But Dodi Lukebakio did not hit Maignan from an acute angle (it was very difficult), and then Lua Openda did not have time to catch the same Lukebakio cross. The French played passively in the first minutes. By the way, I was immediately struck by the presence of free seats in the Lyon stadium. It seemed that such a sign should arouse greater interest among spectators, but it turned out differently. Thanks to those who raised the ticket prices.
France beat Belgium in the Nations League match
Photo: Harry Langer/Getty Images
German referee Tobias Stieler showed the first yellow cards in the eighth minute. Openda did not share anything with Luca Digne in the French penalty area: both received a warning. The world vice-champions suddenly remembered that they were playing at home and took the initiative. Matteo Guendouzi shot right into the goalkeeper’s hands and then Koen Castells made a beautiful jump after Marcus Thuram’s shot.
The French pressure led to a goal scored. Ousmane Dembélé’s clumsy strike became a major problem for Castells. The Belgian goalkeeper with great difficulty deflected the ball in front of him, and there was Randal Kolo Muani. The French national team striker only had to avoid hitting Wout Fas, who was securing the goalkeeper on the line. Kolo Muani partially coped with the task. He still hit Fas, but the ball bounced off the defender and into the net.
Video rights belong to Okko LLC.
The French had possession of the ball 43% of the time in the first half, but had 12 shots (four on target). The Belgians had only two shots (both on target).
The home side did not think of stopping after the break. 12 minutes after the restart, the guests again took the ball out of the net. This time Dembélé did everything. After a pass, he went from the flank to the centre and shot just under the crossbar (2:0). All this made Mbappé, who was in the warm-up area at that time, very happy.
Video rights belong to Okko LLC.
Deschamps released Mbappé and Barcol midway through the second half. Kylian was immediately given the captain’s armband and created a couple of chances. In the first case Castells saved the visitors, in the second the Frenchman shot wide. Towards the end of the match Griezmann also came on. But the home side proved they are capable of winning without Kylian and Antoine. France scored their first points in the new Nations League and Tedesco’s team suffered their first defeat in the tournament.
Key events from the previous day of the League of Nations:
