France 4-1 Belgium was a Nations League comeback with everything: drama, late goals and a manager’s bench doing the heavy lifting. For 77 minutes at the Stade de France on October 5, Belgium looked set to leave Paris with a famous win. Then Zinedine Zidane’s substitutes took over, and France scored four times in 14 minutes.
Belgium Strike First in Paris
Dodi Lukebakio put Belgium ahead in the 35th minute, racing clear after a brilliant ball from Romeo Lavia split the French defence. Belgium were without the suspended Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, yet they stayed compact and dangerous on the counter. A first competitive win over France in 45 years was within reach.
France had the ball but no bite. Zidane made ten changes, gave debuts to Leny Yoro and goalkeeper Guillaume Restes, and watched Ousmane Dembélé captain the side because Kylian Mbappé was injured. Belgian debutant Maarten Vandevoordt kept France out, and the hosts entered the final quarter-hour still chasing the game.
Zidane’s Bench Changes Everything
The turning point arrived on the hour, when Zidane sent on Michael Olise and Rayan Cherki. Désiré Doué followed in the 72nd minute, and the match caught fire.
France had now gone eight straight matches without scoring in the first half, and the starters struggled against a packed Belgian block. The substitutes brought pace, trickery and belief. Goal’s player ratings handed both Olise and Zidane a 9 out of 10.
Doué levelled in the 77th minute with a low drive from the edge of the box. Four minutes later, Olise darted to the byline and pulled the ball back for Cherki, who finished first time to put France in front. Then the Olise show began. He scored in the 88th minute and added a fourth in stoppage time, finishing with a brace and an assist.
The Bayern Munich winger also scored the late winner when France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels last week. Two matches, three Olise goals, and Belgium still have no answer.
Zidane’s First Home Win Lifts France to the Top
This was Zidane’s first home victory as France coach. His unbeaten start continues with three wins and a draw from four games. France lead Nations League Group A1 on 10 points, three clear of Italy, who beat Türkiye 3-1 on the same night, and four ahead of Belgium.
Mbappé Out, Depth on Show
Mbappé was hurt in Zidane’s first match, the 1-0 win over Türkiye on September 25, after scoring the only goal. Real Madrid confirmed a hyperextension of the posterior capsule of his left knee and expected him to be out for about two weeks. A return against Villarreal on October 10 was possible. If he is fit, Zidane has a lovely problem: how to fit Mbappé alongside Dembélé, Olise, Doué and Cherki.
What Happens Next?
France return in November with Italy on the schedule again, reportedly on November 12, and a quarter-final place firmly in their sights. For anyone searching for the France vs Belgium result, the headline is simple: four late goals, one unstoppable substitute, and a coach whose bench looks better than most teams’ starting eleven.
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