France are top of their Nations League group and Zinedine Zidane’s reign is two wins from two. A moment of individual brilliance from substitute Michael Olise — an 88th-minute solo goal for the ages — gave Les Bleus a 1-0 away win over Belgium in Brussels on Monday night.
It was a smash-and-grab victory in the UEFA Nations League 2026/27, League A Group A1, sealed right at the death after Belgium had matched France for most of the evening at the Stade Roi Baudouin.
Olise’s Moment of Magic
With the game goalless and drifting toward a draw, Olise picked up the ball inside his own half, surged past a string of Belgian defenders and finished superbly to silence the home crowd. Reuters described it as coming “two minutes from time”; French and international reports timed it at the 88th minute.
The Bayern Munich winger had come off the bench alongside Rayan Cherki and Ousmane Dembélé, and the trio transformed France’s attack in the closing stages. Before the breakthrough, France had twice been denied by the woodwork through Désiré Doué, while Belgium’s brightest spark was winger Mika Godts.
Zidane Rings the Changes — Again
The win was all the more impressive given the team Zidane fielded. The France head coach made nine changes to the side that beat Türkiye 1-0 on Friday in his first match since succeeding Didier Deschamps after the 2026 World Cup, where France reached the semi-finals.
Captain Kylian Mbappé was absent entirely, having returned to Real Madrid for treatment on a left-knee injury. Only goalkeeper Mike Maignan and defender Maxence Lacroix kept their places from the Türkiye game, with Zidane handing debuts to Lucas Da Cunha of Como and Rennes striker Esteban Lepaul.
Belgium head coach Mark van Bommel, by contrast, made only two changes from the side that won 2-0 in Italy on Friday — his first home game in charge ending in frustration as his team tired late on.
Group A1: France Pull Clear
| Team | Played | Points |
|---|---|---|
| France | 2 | 6 |
| Belgium | 2 | 3 |
| Italy | 2 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 2 | 0 |
The result puts France three points clear at the top of Group A1 with six points from two games. Belgium and Italy sit on three apiece — Italy thrashed Türkiye 4-1 away on the same evening — after Belgium had opened their campaign with that 2-0 win in Italy.
What It Means
- France: Two wins, two clean sheets, top of the group. Zidane’s rotation policy is paying off, and Friday’s home game against Italy at the Stade de France — his first home match in charge — is now a chance to take a stranglehold on the group.
- Belgium: A missed opportunity. Impressive in Italy on Friday, they faded badly in the final half-hour in Brussels and were punished by one moment of world-class quality.
- The rematch: France host Belgium again on October 5, giving Van Bommel’s side a swift chance at revenge — and Zidane the opportunity to make it three wins from three.
For Indian football fans staying up late, it was worth it: a Zidane masterclass in squad management, and a goal from Olise that will be replayed for weeks.
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