MICHAEL OLISE CAME off the bench to inspire France to a 4-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League, handing Zinedine Zidane his first home victory since taking charge.
Dodi Lukebakio put Belgium on course for their first competitive win over Les Bleus in 45 years when he fired the visitors in front in the first half at the Stade de France.
But France turned the match on its head in a blistering finish, scoring four times in the final 13 minutes to preserve Zidane’s unbeaten start and move closer to the quarter-finals.
Desire Doue hauled France level in the 77th minute with a low drive from the edge of the area before Olise teed up Rayan Cherki to fire them ahead four minutes later.
Olise then put the result beyond doubt with a third goal before adding another in stoppage time to cap a stunning French comeback.
DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR BELGIUM!
Michael Olise strikes again to grab his second of the night as France take a commanding 4-1 lead at the Stade de France.
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France, who also beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels last week thanks to a late Olise goal, moved three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1, with Belgium another point back. Italy beat Turkey 3-1 in Bologna to condemn their opponents to a fourth straight loss.
Former World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Zidane heavily rotated his team for the last match of this two-week long international window, with only Dembele keeping his place among the 10 changes.
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Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes made their France debuts, with Ousmane Dembele again captaining the side in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe.
Belgium were without the suspended duo of Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans but caught France cold when Romeo Lavia’s superb ball split open the home defence, allowing Lukebakio to race clear and tuck away a clinical finish.
GOAL: France 0-1 Belgium
Dodi Lukébakio gives Belgium the lead against France at the Stade de France.
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Doue gathered the ball and shot on the turn, beyond the reach of Vandevoordt, to haul France level. Cherki then turned home a cutback from Olise to give the hosts the lead as the Bayern Munich winger stole the show late on.
GOAL: France 1-1 Belgium
Désiré Doué finds the equaliser for France as the hosts draw level against Belgium at the Stade de France.
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GOAL: France 2-1 Belgium
What a turnaround! In a matter of minutes, France go from trailing to leading.
Michael Olise races down the right before cutting the ball back for Rayan Cherki, who fires France in front.
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Olise scrambled in a third in the 88th minute and rolled in a fourth after skilful work from Doue to complete a remarkable turnaround.
GOAL: France 3-1 Belgium
France are flying now! Michael Olise gets his name on the scoresheet as the hosts take firm control at the Stade de France.
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Meanwhile, Italy rounded off their first chunk of Nations League fixtures with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Turkey at the Dall’Ara Stadium to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
Gianluca Scamacca put the Azzurri ahead after 26 minutes only for Aral Simsir to level just after the hour. Italy hit back, though, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito tying up the win.
Italy are rebuilding under Roberto Mancini, who has returned for a second spell as coach of a nation who have failed to qualify for the last three World Cups. They beat Turkey 4-1 in the reverse fixture on matchday 2 before drawing 1-1 with France in Paris.
The Turks went into the game underpowered with Vincenzo Montella still without several key players including the suspended Arda Guler as well as injured pair Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Calhanoglu.
After a subdued start it was the Turks who showed most promise early on with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma having to move smartly to keep out sharp efforts in quick succession from Ozan Kabak and Salih Ozcan.
In the 26th minute, however, it was the home side who found the back of the net. Giovanni Di Lorenzo curled a cross in from the right flank, which took a little deflection before Scamacca fired the ball past Ugurcan Cakir in the Turkey goal.
It was the Atalanta striker’s second international goal after the one he scored against England three years ago.
Turkey showed some drive early in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser just after the hour when Zeki Celik made a fine run down the right and crossed into the box for Simsir to slam the ball home.
But parity lasted just a couple of minutes as former Bologna defender Calafiori got on the end of a free-kick to head the Italians back in front.
Esposito wrapped up the victory three minutes from time with his seventh goal in 13 games.
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France's blistering finish flattens Belgium to provide Zidane with first home win
MICHAEL OLISE CAME off the bench to inspire France to a 4-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League, handing Zinedine Zidane his first home victory since taking charge.
Dodi Lukebakio put Belgium on course for their first competitive win over Les Bleus in 45 years when he fired the visitors in front in the first half at the Stade de France.
But France turned the match on its head in a blistering finish, scoring four times in the final 13 minutes to preserve Zidane’s unbeaten start and move closer to the quarter-finals.
Desire Doue hauled France level in the 77th minute with a low drive from the edge of the area before Olise teed up Rayan Cherki to fire them ahead four minutes later.
Olise then put the result beyond doubt with a third goal before adding another in stoppage time to cap a stunning French comeback.
France, who also beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels last week thanks to a late Olise goal, moved three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1, with Belgium another point back. Italy beat Turkey 3-1 in Bologna to condemn their opponents to a fourth straight loss.
Former World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner Zidane heavily rotated his team for the last match of this two-week long international window, with only Dembele keeping his place among the 10 changes.
Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes made their France debuts, with Ousmane Dembele again captaining the side in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappe.
Belgium were without the suspended duo of Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans but caught France cold when Romeo Lavia’s superb ball split open the home defence, allowing Lukebakio to race clear and tuck away a clinical finish.
Doue gathered the ball and shot on the turn, beyond the reach of Vandevoordt, to haul France level. Cherki then turned home a cutback from Olise to give the hosts the lead as the Bayern Munich winger stole the show late on.
Olise scrambled in a third in the 88th minute and rolled in a fourth after skilful work from Doue to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Meanwhile, Italy rounded off their first chunk of Nations League fixtures with a comprehensive 3-1 win over Turkey at the Dall’Ara Stadium to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
Gianluca Scamacca put the Azzurri ahead after 26 minutes only for Aral Simsir to level just after the hour. Italy hit back, though, with goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito tying up the win.
Italy are rebuilding under Roberto Mancini, who has returned for a second spell as coach of a nation who have failed to qualify for the last three World Cups. They beat Turkey 4-1 in the reverse fixture on matchday 2 before drawing 1-1 with France in Paris.
The Turks went into the game underpowered with Vincenzo Montella still without several key players including the suspended Arda Guler as well as injured pair Kenan Yildiz and Hakan Calhanoglu.
After a subdued start it was the Turks who showed most promise early on with Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma having to move smartly to keep out sharp efforts in quick succession from Ozan Kabak and Salih Ozcan.
In the 26th minute, however, it was the home side who found the back of the net. Giovanni Di Lorenzo curled a cross in from the right flank, which took a little deflection before Scamacca fired the ball past Ugurcan Cakir in the Turkey goal.
It was the Atalanta striker’s second international goal after the one he scored against England three years ago.
Turkey showed some drive early in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser just after the hour when Zeki Celik made a fine run down the right and crossed into the box for Simsir to slam the ball home.
But parity lasted just a couple of minutes as former Bologna defender Calafiori got on the end of a free-kick to head the Italians back in front.
Esposito wrapped up the victory three minutes from time with his seventh goal in 13 games.
– © AFP 2026
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