France Scores Four Late Goals to Stun Belgium 4-1 in Nations League

Four goals in 14 minutes. That is the exact measure of the storm that hit the Stade de France on Monday night, transforming a frustrating home debut for manager Zinedine Zidane into a commanding 4-1 victory over Belgium. The late surge keeps France firmly at the summit of UEFA Nations League Group A1.[4][5]

For over an hour, the hosts looked entirely out of ideas against a disciplined Belgian low block. Dodi Lukebakio had fired the visitors ahead in the 35th minute, latching onto a defense-splitting pass from Roméo Lavia to tuck a clinical finish past debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.[1][2][3]

Belgium, playing without suspended midfield anchors Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, were on course for their first competitive victory over Les Bleus in 45 years. They absorbed French possession comfortably, leaving a heavily rotated home side searching for answers.[1][2][5]

Zidane had made 10 changes to the lineup that drew 1-1 with Italy three days prior, handing the captain's armband to Ousmane Dembélé in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappé. But the starting eleven struggled to create meaningful chances, marking their eighth consecutive match without a first-half goal.[1][2]

The tactical turning point arrived on the hour mark. Zidane turned to his bench, introducing Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki, followed shortly by Paris Saint-Germain's Désiré Doué. The trio immediately injected pace and verticality, stretching a tiring Belgian defense that had sat deep all evening.[2][5][6]

"That's football, that's what we love," Zidane told TF1 after the match. "We were just missing that final few meters in the first half, but then we turned the match around". The dam broke in the 77th minute when Doué drilled a low, left-footed shot beyond Maarten Vandevoordt.[1][2]

From there, the Belgian resistance completely collapsed. Just four minutes after the equalizer, Olise carved open the right flank and delivered a precise cross for Cherki, who finished cleanly to put France ahead. The momentum shift was absolute, with the visitors unable to launch any counter-attacks to stem the tide.[2][4][5]

Olise then took the match over entirely. The winger secured the result in the 88th minute with a close-range finish, before adding a spectacular fourth in stoppage time after combining brilliantly with Doué on a rapid break.[2][6]

"We played well at the end; in the first half it was difficult against their low block," Olise noted. "After that we kept going and it was good in the end". His performance capped a turnaround echoing France's last comeback win, also against Belgium in 2021.[2][5]

The result carries heavy consequences for the Group A1 qualification picture. France now sit top with 10 points, three clear of Italy, who secured a 3-1 victory over Türkiye in Bologna. Belgium, meanwhile, drop to third place on six points, slipping out of the group's leading pair.[3][4][5]

For Zidane, the blistering finish preserves his unbeaten start and provides a blueprint for breaking down stubborn defenses. France will look to seal their place in the Nations League knockout stage when they travel to Milan next month, while Belgium face a must-win fixture against Italy.[1][6]