France Beat Belgium 1-0: Olise Late Goal Seals Win

Michael Olise needed only minutes off the bench to break Belgian hearts. In the 88th minute, France beat Belgium 1-0 with a left-footed strike. Zidane rotated eight starters, yet his bench delivered the winner.

As a result, Les Bleus lead Group A1 with six points. Meanwhile, Belgium leave the pitch empty handed after a tight night at home. Moreover, Zidane now owns two wins from two matches as manager.

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France Beat Belgium in a Tense Night at King Baudouin

Monday’s clash in Brussels opened with plenty of respect and little space. Both teams pressed high, yet neither found rhythm early.

Belgium, under Mark van Bommel, arrived confident after a 2-0 win against Italy. France, meanwhile, carried a 1-0 win over Türkiye into the night. Zidane made eight changes to his starting eleven. Consequently, Dembélé, Cherki and Olise began on the bench.

However, the Mbappé injury from Kocaeli sent the Real Madrid striker back to his club. Even so, Zidane’s France showed depth, and rotation paid off.

This UEFA Nations League tie carried extra weight for both squads. Belgium wanted a statement, while France wanted to protect its perfect start. From Quito to Guayaquil, Ecuadorian fans follow these European nights closely.

First Turning Point: France Rattle the Woodwork

Desiré Doué nearly opened the scoring with a fierce right-footed drive. His effort crashed against the crossbar, and Belgium escaped.Shortly after, Maghnes Akliouche forced Senne Lammens into action with a free kick. In short, France produced the sharper chances before the interval.

🚨Désiré Doué has been France’s best player vs Belgium pic.twitter.com/P269BrsgVD
— Polymarket Sports (@PolymarketSport) September 28, 2026

After the break, Da Cunha came agonizingly close. His shot struck the base of the post, and the score stayed level. As a result, France kept pressing, though Belgium stayed dangerous on the break. However, the tension grew with every passing minute.

Tactics and Momentum - De Bruyne Keeps Belgium Alive

Belgium refused to fold. Kevin De Bruyne became their main threat, and one shot flew just wide. In addition, Mike Maignan denied Lukebakio with a key save. That stop kept Zidane’s France level and protected the clean sheet.

Kevin De Bruyne probó desde la mitad de la cancha y... ¡UPA! ¡Maignan estuvo muy cerca de protagonizar un BLOOPER ENORME en Bélgica vs. Francia!

📺 Toda la #NationsLeague por ESPN en el Plan Premium de #DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/s2rRx9h00C
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Tactically, both coaches kept compact shapes and waited for space. The middle stretch of the match offered few clear chances. France failed to hold control for long spells.

Even so, Ousmane Dembélé added speed and flair after coming on in the 68th minute. As a result, neither side could break through until the 88th minute.

Score Summary and Nations League Impact

The scoreline reads France 1, Belgium 0, with Olise as the only scorer. Dembélé entered in the 68th minute, and Olise followed in the 77th.Rayan Cherki also came on later, adding fresh legs up front. Then came the 88th minute, and everything changed.

#MichaelOlise just scored a brilliant goal for France to beat Belgium in the @UEFA Nations League.

Off his shoulder to start in France’s end -> speed and control down the pitch looking like Lamar Jackson with the stiff arm -> beautiful finish.

Always an Eagle! #CPFC 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/M0pK3TgLlJ
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Lammens made five saves, yet Olise’s late strike beat him. Group A1 now has a clear leader after two matchdays. France have six points and no goals conceded.

Consequently, Zidane’s men hold the early advantage in the race for the group. Moreover, Belgium remained on three points after their opening win over Italy. In addition, Italy beat Türkiye in the other fixture.

Why France Won - Olise Goal Punishes Belgium

France beat Belgium because Zidane trusted his bench at the right moment. Cherki started the counter-attack, and the Bayern Munich winger carried it forward with pace.

He drifted toward the edge of the box and fired low into the left corner. The low strike beat Lammens, and the home crowd fell silent.

Moreover, Olise’s fresh legs changed the tempo late in the game. As a result, this Olise goal rewarded France’s patience. For example, Doué, Akliouche and Da Cunha all threatened before Olise finished the job. Patience also mattered, because France kept creating after several near misses.

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