France Overturns Belgium with Late Surge Led by Michael Olise and Desire Doue

At the Stade de France, France pulled off an incredible comeback against Belgium, winning 4-1 after trailing most of the match. Zinedine Zidane's team finally broke through in the final 14 minutes, scoring four goals to overwhelm their opponents.

For much of the game, it looked like Mark van Bommel's Belgium might hold on to a narrow lead thanks to Dodi Lukebakio's first-half goal. Despite controlling 61% possession and having an expected goals (xG) of 2.38, France struggled to crack Belgium's tight defense. The shift came late as France's fitness and bench strength wore down Belgium's backline.

The turnaround was sparked by young substitutes who made a huge impact. Between the 77th minute and stoppage time, France went from a 0-1 deficit to a 4-1 win, firing 24 shots with 9 on target compared to Belgium’s 5 total shots.

Goalkeeper & Defense

• Guillaume Restes - 6/10: Had little action until Lukebakio’s well-taken goal. Made one save and distributed well while helping build play from the back.
• Leny Yoro - 7/10: Calm on his debut, using speed to contain Romelu Lukaku. Key in winning aerial duels and restricting Belgium to just two shots on target.
• Maxence Lacroix - 6/10: Solid but unspectacular, helped keep a high defensive line. Provided needed physicality despite being caught out for Belgium’s goal.
• Jules Kounde - 7/10: Active in attack from right-back, though crosses were uneven. Maintained possession and limited Dodi Moreira’s impact on his flank.
• Andy Diouf - 6/10: Balanced left side, focused more on defense and helped prevent Belgian counters.

Midfield

• Eduardo Camavinga - 7/10: The midfield engine, recycled possession and broke lines to keep pressure on Belgium. Replaced late by Rabiot.
• Manu Kone - 6/10: Added toughness but lacked decisive passes. Substituted early in second half for more creativity.
• Maghnes Akliouche - 6/10: Quiet, struggled to find space between Belgium’s lines. Part of the changes that led to the comeback.

Attack

• Ousmane Dembele - 6/10: Captain but often frustrating, tried many dribbles without success. Withdrawn after an unproductive performance.
• Bradley Barcola - 6/10: Showed bursts of speed but was tightly marked and couldn’t break through before being replaced by Doue.
• Esteban Lepaul - 6/10: Led the line but was isolated and lacked service, failing to trouble the keeper significantly.

Substitutes & Manager

• Desire Doue - 9/10: The spark plug after coming on at 72 minutes. Scored the equalizer and assisted two late goals, completely changing the game.
• Michael Olise - 9/10: Exceptional after entering at 60 minutes. Assisted the go-ahead goal and scored twice himself to seal the win.
• Rayan Cherki - 8/10: Entered late and scored the vital third goal, showing calmness and skill in tight spaces.
• Lucas Da Cunha - 7/10: Came on early in second half, assisted the equalizer, and helped swing momentum toward France.
• Adrien Rabiot - N/A: Brought on late to help close out the game.
• Zinedine Zidane - 9/10: His substitutions turned the tide. Recognized the need for fresh talent and creativity, transforming what seemed like a defeat into a convincing victory.