Michael Olise scored twice and assisted another as France overturned Belgium’s lead to claim a dramatic 4-1 Nations League victory.
Dodi Lukébakio gave Belgium a deserved first-half lead, but France transformed the contest through their substitutes. Désiré Doué equalised in the 77th minute, Rayan Cherki struck four minutes later, and Olise scored twice before the final whistle.
All four French goals arrived during the final 14 minutes. The victory put Zinédine Zidane’s team top of Group A1, while Belgium dropped to third.
The scorers and key events are recorded in Al Jazeera’s France versus Belgium live report, and the BBC’s Nations League match coverage.
France vs Belgium match summary
| Match detail | Information |
| Result | France 4-1 Belgium |
| Competition | UEFA Nations League, League A Group 1 |
| Venue | Stade de France, Saint-Denis |
| Belgium scorer | Dodi Lukébakio, 35th minute |
| France scorers | Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, Michael Olise twice |
| Half-time score | France 0-1 Belgium |
| Attendance | 75,389 |
Lukébakio rewards Belgium’s first-half discipline
France controlled possession but struggled against Belgium’s compact defensive structure. The visitors protected central areas and countered through Lukébakio and Romelu Lukaku.
Lukébakio completed a quick attacking move in the 35th minute to put Mark van Bommel’s team ahead.
The hosts lacked speed around the penalty area, while goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt helped Belgium protect their lead until half-time.
Zidane eventually turned to a bench containing Olise, Cherki and Doué.
Zidane’s substitutions transform the match
Olise and Cherki entered after an hour before Doué replaced Barcola. Their movement immediately made France more threatening.
Doué equalised in the 77th minute, creating space away from Nicolas Raskin before guiding a low finish into the far corner.
France moved ahead when Olise accelerated past Timothy Castagne and cut the ball back for Cherki to finish.
France continued attacking after completing the turnaround.
Olise completes devastating late surge
Olise made it 3-1 in the 88th minute, holding off Raskin before finishing across Vandevoordt.
Doué then released Olise to score his second goal underneath Vandevoordt during stoppage time.
Olise finished with two goals and an assist. Cherki and Doué’s goals further demonstrated France’s depth without injured captain Kylian Mbappé.
The official UEFA France versus Belgium match page confirms that Olise, Cherki and Doué were all second-half introductions.
France vs Belgium match statistics
| Statistic | France | Belgium |
| Possession | 66% | 34% |
| Total shots | 23 | 5 |
| Shots on target | 8 | 2 |
| Corners | 9 | 2 |
| Passes | 692 | 363 |
| Passing accuracy | 90% | 79% |
| Touches in opposition box | 76 | 8 |
The complete France versus Belgium statistics illustrate France’s dominance: 23 shots, 625 accurate passes and 76 opposition-box touches.
Belgium defended effectively for over an hour, and Vandevoordt made five saves, but France’s late pressure became overwhelming.
Key performers
Olise combined intelligence with composure, creating Cherki’s goal before scoring twice himself. Doué provided direct running and the equaliser that finally broke Belgium’s resistance. Cherki attacked the penalty area decisively, while Eduardo Camavinga helped France sustain control in midfield.
For Belgium, Lukébakio supplied their most important attacking moment, and Vandevoordt delayed the comeback with several saves. Lukaku occupied France’s centre-backs, but the visitors received too little support once their defensive shape began to weaken during the final quarter.
Group A1 standings
| Position | Team | Played | Goal difference | Points |
| 1 | France | 4 | +5 | 10 |
| 2 | Italy | 4 | +3 | 7 |
| 3 | Belgium | 4 | +1 | 6 |
| 4 | Turkey | 4 | -9 | 0 |
Unbeaten France lead Italy by three points. Belgium trail Italy by one, leaving qualification possible.
Turkey are bottom without a point, while France control the group before the final two fixtures.
What the result means for Ugandan supporters
For Ugandan supporters, the match demonstrated how quickly attacking depth can transform a contest. Belgium appeared close to victory before France’s late surge.
Olise’s two goals and assist made him the decisive player. Cherki and Doué showed why France remain dangerous when established starters struggle.
Belgium’s collapse also showed that a half-time lead offers no guarantee when substitutes change the tempo.
Ugandan viewers should therefore examine confirmed substitutes as closely as starting line-ups. France’s bench decided this match.
Frequently asked questions
What was the France vs Belgium result?
France defeated Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France.
Who scored for France?
Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki scored once each, while Michael Olise contributed two goals.
Who scored Belgium’s goal?
Dodi Lukébakio gave Belgium the lead in the 35th minute.
Who was the standout player?
Olise was the decisive performer after producing two goals and one assist from the bench.
What does the result mean for Group A1?
France lead with ten points, followed by Italy on seven and Belgium on six.
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Conclusion
France’s victory demonstrated exceptional squad depth. Belgium earned a deserved lead, but Olise, Cherki and Doué transformed the contest.
Four late goals strengthened France’s Group A1 lead and delivered Zidane’s most dramatic victory. Belgium remain in contention but could not contain France for 90 minutes.
