Zidane's France rookies overturn Belgium as Nations League Group A1 tightens

Paris — France turned on a devastating final quarter-hour at the Stade de France on Monday to overturn a first-half deficit and cruise to a 4-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League Group A1, a result that handed Zinedine Zidane the first home victory of his reign and left the French top of the group with a game in hand.

Three days after a 1-1 draw against Italy in which his side had looked short of a cutting edge, Zidane looked to his bench — and was rewarded emphatically. Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise all began the match on the touchline, and between them they produced every goal France scored, transforming a taut, tight contest into a one-sided rout in the closing stages.

Belgium had looked like they might make a night of it when Dodi Lukebakio struck first, taking advantage of the visitors' patient build-up to find the net in the 35th minute. The goal gave the visitors a lead they held comfortably for most of the remaining hour and, for long periods, looked set to be enough. France, who had struggled to turn possession into chances, offered little of attacking threat during the middle stretch of the match, and the noise around the stadium suggested a growing frustration with the home side's lack of fluency.

The mood changed abruptly once the substitutes were introduced. Doue produced the equaliser in the 77th minute, driving a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area beyond the Belgian defence and into the corner of the net. It was a piece of individual composure and, more importantly, the moment that destabilised a Belgium side that had been holding firm.

Four minutes later, Cherki delivered the go-ahead goal, arriving at the far post to finish cleanly from Olise's cross. Belgian heads dropped at that point, and the floodgates opened. Olise then completed a brace in stoppage time, netting just before and again during the break in play, the second goal arriving after he latched onto a deft pass from Doue following a swift, clinical break. Both goals arrived with Belgium scrambling to salvage something from the fixture, and neither was greeted by anything like resistance.

The striking feature of the scoreline is how it was constructed. Three of France's four goals came from players who did not start the game, and the fourth — Olise's first — was created by the same trio. It suggests a France coach who is comfortable leaning on depth, particularly in attack, and a Belgium team that could not cope with the change of pace and quality that arrived when the home side refreshed its forward line. Doue, Cherki and Olise were a relentless source of energy in the final stretch, and their running behind a tiring Belgian back line produced chance after chance in the closing minutes.

For Zidane, the significance extends beyond the points. The victory comes just days after a frustrating draw with Italy and provides the first evidence that his France side can convert home advantage into a full three points — something that had been conspicuously absent from his short tenure so far. It also underlines how much tactical flexibility he has available: his best attacking output on the night came not from the starters but from a reshaped, faster forward unit introduced mid-match.

Belgium's position is now considerably more precarious. The visitors suffered their first defeat in the group and dropped to third, four points behind France, with plenty of work still to do if they are to reach the finals. The loss in Paris, following a spell of steady progress, leaves them needing consistency across their remaining fixtures in a group that offers them little margin for error.

Elsewhere in Group A1, Italy strengthened their own position by beating Turkiye 3-1. Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito were the scorers for the Azzurri, who had to come from behind after Aral Simsir equalised for the visitors shortly after the hour mark. The Italian victory is notable for its timing: it keeps them within touching distance of the leaders going into the final two rounds and guarantees, at the very least, a strong finish to their qualifying campaign.

The standings reflect a group that has separated itself at the top and settled into a difficult battle below. France lead with 10 points, three clear of Italy and four ahead of Belgium, while Turkiye sit bottom of the table having lost all four of their matches. The Turks' campaign has unraveled steadily, and their hopes now rest on salvaging points from their remaining fixtures, including a trip to France.

France's immediate focus, however, is a demanding one. In November they travel to Milan for the penultimate match of the group against Italy — a fixture that, on this evidence, will be the acid test of whether Zidane's side can convert late-game inspiration into sustained consistency. Only after that, at home against Turkiye, will they complete their qualifying schedule.

The broader implication is that this Nations League group remains finely balanced despite France's comfortable-looking margin. The leaders have proven they can win from a losing position; Italy have responded to their own setback with a win; and Belgium, for all their encouraging displays, now face an uphill task. With two matches left, and the Milan trip looming, the gap that looks comfortable on the table may prove considerably tighter on the pitch.