Brussels, Sep 29 (V7N)- France secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, with substitute Michael Olise scoring the decisive goal late in the match.
France dominated possession and created several attacking opportunities at the King Baudouin Stadium but failed to break the deadlock in the first half.
Playing without captain Kylian Mbappe, France continued to press after the break, while Belgium also threatened on the counterattack.
The breakthrough finally came in the 88th minute. Olise collected a pass from Rayan Cherki inside his own half, advanced toward the Belgian penalty area and finished with a composed strike to give France the lead.
The goal secured France’s second consecutive victory under head coach Zinedine Zidane. France had previously defeated Türkiye 1-0 in Zidane’s first match in charge.
The result moved France to the top of Nations League Group A1 with six points from two matches.
In another Group A1 match, Italy bounced back from their opening defeat to Belgium with a convincing 4-1 victory over Türkiye in Bursa.
Alessandro Bastoni put Italy ahead in the ninth minute before Davide Frattesi doubled the advantage in the 22nd. Michael Kayode then scored his first international goal five minutes later to make it 3-0.
Türkiye pulled one back through Barış Alper Yılmaz shortly after halftime, but Italy restored their three-goal advantage three minutes later through Francesco Pio Esposito.
Italy held on for a comfortable victory and moved onto three points in Group A1, while Türkiye remained without a point after two matches.
END/SMA/AJ
