UEFA Nations League
France Super-subs spark blitz of Belgium
Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise scored in a remarkable finale to propel France to a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Belgium.… Show More
Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise scored in a remarkable finale to propel France to a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Belgium.
With just 13 minutes of normal time left in the contest at the Stade de France, Zinedine Zidane's unbeaten start as France coach was in real jeopardy.
The visitor led through Dodi Lukebakio's 35th-minute strike, with the forward having burst clear on the counter-attack and finished brilliantly.
Without Kylian Mbappe, France lacked a clinical touch in the first half, with Ousmane Dembele, Maghnes Akliouche, Eduardo Camavinga and Esteban Lepaul seeing half-chances pass them by.
France's profligacy continued after the break, with Lepaul denied from point-blank range, yet Les Bleus' luck changed when Zidane turned to his bench.
Cherki and Olise were the first changes, and though they helped build the pressure, it was not until Doue entered the fray that they finally made the breakthrough.
Doue superbly created space on the edge of the box and, on the turn, drilled a sublime finish into the bottom-right corner.
The turnaround was complete four minutes later, as Olise drove to the byline and steered it back for Cherki, who duly finished.
Olise got in on the act in the 88th minute, nudging home from Doue's cutback.
The same pair combined to complete a stunning rout in stoppage time, with Olise sliding in a crisp effort after latching onto Doue's sumptuous pass.
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