Zinedine Zidane expressed his excitement over France’s tenacity following their dramatic 1-0 win against Belgium in the Nations League, celebrating animatedly.
Despite a commendable display in Brussels, it seemed France might have to settle for a draw at Stade Roi Baudouin as they struggled to convert their opportunities into goals.
However, Michael Olise made an impact after coming off the bench, netting the decisive goal in the 88th minute by sprinting through the Belgian defense and placing a precise low shot into the bottom-right corner.
With this victory, France has secured wins in both matches under Zidane’s management, placing them at the top of Group A1.
Olise now has 13 contributions in 14 appearances for France, marking his fourth goal on Monday along with nine assists.
On the sidelines, Zidane was full of energy after Olise’s remarkable run and playfully kicked a loose ball as he celebrated the goal.
“I was right there with him!” Zidane quipped to TF1 when asked about the moment. “I watched him dribble and thought he was going to score. I was fully invested as well.”
“Overall, we earned this victory; everyone played a part. We appreciate that. I believe we dominated the match, which is only fair considering the full 90 minutes. We deserved this goal despite Belgium creating a few chances, but we really earned it.”
Les Bleus go 3 points clear in their Nations League group
Our upcoming matches:
2 October: Italy
5 October: Belgium pic.twitter.com/w6LG0mNkEs— French Team (@FrenchTeam) September 28, 2026
Desire Doue was particularly impressive, hitting the post, taking five shots, and creating four opportunities for his teammates.
He became one of only five players to achieve 5+ shots, 5+ successful dribbles, and 4+ chances created in a match for France, the first since Kylian Mbappe, who was sidelined for this game, did so against Azerbaijan in 2025.
Esteban Lepaul also had opportunities to score during his first start for Les Bleus, with four shots that yielded a team-high expected goals (xG) of 0.5.
“We played well, especially in the first half, keeping things consistent,” Lepaul remarked to TF1.
“We adjusted a few things about our pressing at halftime. It was a really engaging match; we even hit the woodwork a couple of times. Everyone cheered for Michael Olise’s goal; that shows the group’s unity. Supporting each other is how we’ll progress.”
Fan Take: This thrilling victory not only highlights France’s potential as a powerhouse under Zidane but also indicates a promising depth of talent in players like Olise and Doue. For soccer fans, such performances signal a bright future and the possibility of sustained success on the international stage.
Source: www.soccernews.com
