Olise, Cherki and Doue rescue France in four-goal Belgium comeback
For 77 minutes at the Stade de France on Monday night, Zinedine Zidane's unbeaten start as France coach was in real danger. Then his substitutes took over. Four goals in the final 13 minutes, from Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise, turned a 1-0 deficit into a 4-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League.
Belgium strike first
Belgium led for most of the night. In the 35th minute, Dodi Lukebakio beat the offside trap to run onto a long ball from Romeo Lavia and finished past the French goalkeeper. According to beIN Sports, Belgium were on course for their first competitive win over France in 45 years.
France had chances to respond. Manu Kone's effort was blocked and Ousmane Dembele curled a shot just wide, while Belgium goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt, making his debut, kept out efforts from Esteban Lepaul and Cherki.
Zidane's bench changes everything
Zidane had seen enough around the hour mark and sent on Cherki and Olise, with Doue following later. The breakthrough came in the 77th minute when Doue drove a low shot from the edge of the area past Vandevoordt.
Four minutes later, Olise raced to the byline and cut the ball back for Cherki to put France ahead. Olise then took over himself, scoring in the 88th minute and again in stoppage time to complete the comeback.
The win was Zidane's first at home since taking charge, and it keeps his record unbeaten after four matches. It also came without Kylian Mbappe.
A Premier League and Bundesliga flavour
The match had plenty of interest for fans of Europe's top leagues. Olise, the Bayern Munich winger, has now been decisive in both of France's recent meetings with Belgium, having also scored the late winner in a 1-0 victory in Brussels a week earlier. Manchester City's Cherki added his goal days before City visit Liverpool on Sunday.
There was also a Premier League storyline away from the pitch. Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet was absent with a hamstring strain, giving Manchester United's Leny Yoro his first France cap.
Group A1 picture
The result puts France three points clear at the top of Group A1 after four games, with ten points. Italy are second on seven, Belgium third on six and Turkey bottom without a point, according to ESPN. Mark van Bommel's Belgium will need results in November to stay in the running.
Photo: Zakarie Faibis / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0