Worried but qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 h France!
Didier Deschamps’ side were superior throughout the one-on-one encounter Belgium who was content with a passive role, created plenty of chances in front of the Castells goal, but it took a own goal by Vertonghen in 85′to get the win with 1-0 and qualification to the “8”, where he will face the winner of the pair Portugal-Slovenia!
Thus, after this victory, France returned to the Euro quarter-finals after their absence in 2021, when they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland, while Belgium fails to star in another major competition.
In the minds of the coaches:
With 4-4-2 in a rhombus, France was lined up by Didier Deschampschoosing Menian under the posts, Kouté, Upameano, Saliba and Theo Hernandez four in defense, Kante in a defensive midfielder role, Tswameni, Rabiot in front of him and with Griezmann in a ten role, behind Mbappe and Touram.
On the other hand, Mr Tedesco chose the 4-3-3, with Castells as the goalkeeper, Castan, Faes, Vertonghen and Teat as a defensive four, Onana, De Bruyne and Carrasco as a midfield trio and with Doku, Openda on the attacking flanks, with Lukaku more advanced .
The match
The match started with France creating the first final try in the 2nd minute, with a turn of Rabio not to particularly threaten Castells, while in the 6th minute Teat looked for him with a deep ball Openbut o Menian came out in time and moved away. The pace was slow in the opening minutes, with France having large percentages of possession and with Belgium waiting in their own half, properly organized defensively.
In the 10th Griezmann he found some space and shot from the edge of the box, weakly into the arms of Castells, while in the 12th minute Griezmann and Coute combined beautifully, but the latter’s curling shot did not find a teammate. In the 14th century Mbappe shot powerfully from a good position, with the ball going against Onana before a corner, but with the referees giving off and Kamavinga to be punished with a yellow card for protesting.
In the 18th century Turam was right at the front post from a corner but his header was wide of the mark, while Belgium first threatened in the 24th minute when De Bruyne he took a direct free-kick from the sideline, with Menian caught off guard but clearing with his feet. In the 27th minute, Docu made a move and turn from the left, with Carrasco shooting over Hernandez, while in the 34th minute, France came close to scoring when Kamavinga he made a fantastic 40-yard ball for Kute and he headed home the cross, with Thuram sending the ball wide with a powerful header.
The French threatened again in the 39th minute, when o Tswameni he caught a long-range shot that went just over the posts of Castells, while the “tricolor” continued to circulate the ball constantly, but were unable to find the right final pass. Tsoumeni was also the protagonist in the last major phase of the first half, when after a beautiful individual effort by Mbappe, he shot high despite being unmarked in an advantageous position.
The image of the match did not change even with the return of the two teams from the locker room, with France continuing to have the upper hand. In the 49th minute, Tsoumeni threatened with another long-range shot, which went against Faes before Castells saved for a corner, while in the 51st minute, Kude he made the cross, with his header Turam to pass out. Three minutes later (54′), Mbappe cut in beautifully from the left of the French attack and caught a low-ball, with the ball going just over Castells’ goal.
Belgium looked threatening for the first time in the second half in the 61st minute, when after a mistake by Saliba, De Bruyne he found him with a wonderful vertical pass Carrascobut he was cut off by him Hernandes, who celebrated his excellent tackle as if he had scored! In the 65th minute, Griezmann found space on the edge of the area, but he shot clumsily and mistimed, while in the 69th minute, the experienced midfielder laid on Tsouameni, with his shot going high and wide.
Belgium “answered” in the 71st minute, when o Lukaku he was unmarked nicely and found himself in a shooting position, but was unable to beat Menian, while in the 74th minute the forward for a corner, Saliba, evaded Doku nicely, but slotted just wide of Castells’ left-hand post. In the 78th minute, Kute made another turn, with Mbappe placing in the move, mistimed, while Belgium came close to the goal in the 83rd minute, with Menian to repel his effort with difficulty De Bruyne.
Finally, the winning goal for France came in the 85th minute, when Cante made the vertical pass to Colo Muani and he found a way to turn his body and shoot, with the ball against him Vertonghen, before ending up in the net for 1-0! In the remaining minutes the Belgians tried, but failed to react, with France celebrating qualification for the quarter-finals of Euro 2024!
MVP: THE Ngolo Kante made another dominant appearance in the axis of France! For many, the most valuable football player of the “tricolor” so far in Euro 2024, was in one more match infallible, uniting the defender with the midfield of his team. After doing everything for 85 minutes, he also made the pass that led to the only goal of the match!
France (Didier Deschamps, 4-3-3): Menian – Kouté, Upamecano, Saliba, T. Hernandez – Kante, Tswameni, Rabiot – Touram (62′ Kolo Mouani), Mbappe, Griezmann.
Belgium (Domenico Tedesto, 4-3-3): Castells – Castan (89′ De Ketelar), Faes, Vertonghen, Teat – Onana, De Bruyne, Carrasco (89′ Lukebaccio) – Doku, Openda (63′ Mangala), Lukaku.
Referee: Glen Nyberg (Sweden)
Field: Merkur Spiel-Arena, Dusseldorf
Live from sport-fm.gr
Source: Sport Fm
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