Without Kylian Mbappé in the starting lineup, France delivered an impressive performance, defeating Belgium 2-0 thanks to goals from Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembélé.

Coach Didier Deschamps surprised many by leaving both Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann on the bench for the match against Belgium, just three days after a defeat to Italy. The crowd in Lyon jeered Deschamps when his name was announced before the game. However, the performance of the French team seemed to validate the 56-year-old coach’s decisions.

France had less possession than Belgium but managed 25 shots on goal, while Belgium, despite having Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, struggled to create chances. The hosts took the lead in the 29th minute with a rebound goal from Randal Kolo Muani. In the 57th minute, Ousmane Dembélé made a dazzling run from the right into the box and scored to secure a 2-0 victory.

This win marks France’s fourth consecutive victory over Belgium, spanning the World Cup, Euro, and Nations League. The three points come at a crucial time for Deschamps and his team, who had been struggling with recent losses in the Euro 2024 semifinals and the Nations League opener for the 2024-2025 season.

The French media praised France’s performance. “The team played as a true unit, not relying solely on star power as seen in their loss to Italy,” commented Le Parisien. “In the upcoming matches against Israel and Belgium next month, it will be interesting to see if Deschamps’ changes continue to be effective.” The French press noted that Mbappé and Griezmann, who came on in the 67th and 79th minutes respectively, had minimal impact on the victory. Matteo Guendouzi performed well in Griezmann’s place, while the attacking trio of Dembélé, Kolo Muani, and Marcus Thuram provided balance in attack.

On the other hand, Belgium’s disappointing performance led to frustration from captain Kevin De Bruyne. After the match, he repeatedly told Belgian Football Association’s technical director Franky Vercauteren, “I’m done,” hinting at the possibility of retiring from international duty. “We played terribly,” De Bruyne added in his post-match interview.