Belgium vs France LIVE: Nations League semi-final result, final score and reaction tonight
Les Bleus grabbed victory with the 90th minute strike from Theo Hernandez
World champions France recovered from two goals down to beat Belgium 3-2 in a thrilling Nations League semi-final on Thursday with a last minute strike from Theo Hernandez securing a place in Sunday’s showpiece match against Spain.
In a crazy end to the game Belgium thought they had won it minutes earlier but Romelu Lukaku’s late effort was ruled out for offside by VAR.
Yannick Carrasco fired Belgium ahead in the 37th minute and three minutes later Lukaku doubled the lead with a superbly taken goal.
Karim Benzema got France back into the game in the 62nd minute before Kylian Mbappe equalised with a penalty.
France were on top and searching for the winner but three minutes from the end of normal time Lukaku looked to have won the game for Belgium after connecting with a cross from Carrasco only for the effort to be annulled.
France midfielder Paul Pogba then hit the top of the post with a superb curling free-kick before Les Bleus grabbed victory with the 90th minute strike from Hernandez. Follow all the reaction from the game below.
Belgium 0 - 0 France
12 mins: Kevin De Bruyne seems to be on one tonight. He and Lukaku are combining beautifully with the Chelsea striker performing his holding role expertly. He manages to set De Bruyne up for another shot but the Man City midfielder scuffs this attempt well wide of goal.
Belgium 0 - 0 France
9 mins: Lovely play from Belgium to work the ball up the pitch. They knock it slowly out to Castagne on the right wing who then passes it inside to Axel Witsel. He squares a pass to Youri Tielemans who sends it up to De Bruyne. Lukaku pushes into the box and receives the ball. He holds off Raphael Varane long enough to set up De Bruyne with a shot from range but the effort is blocked by Lucas Hernandez.
Belgium 0 - 0 France
6 mins: Chance for France. Kylian Mbappe is given the ball high up on the left side. He darts inside and flicks a cross to the far side of the box. Benjamin Pavard pushes high and sneaks in behind Timothy Castagne to get to the ball first. He wins it in the air but sends his effort safely into the hands of Thibaut Courtois.
Belgium 0 - 0 France
3 mins: SAVE! Belgium almost have the perfect start. They clear a ball up to Romelu Lukaku and the striker holds it up beautifully before turning away from Lucas Hernandez and driving down the right side. He whips a cross into the box that Jules Kounde fails to deal with and the ball pops out to Kevin De Bruyne. He hits it on the half-volley from the middle of the box and Hugo Lloris reacts quickly to palm the ball wide of the post!
Belgium 0 - 0 France
Kick off: The little car brings on the ball and referee Daniel Siebert places it on the centre spot. The players all take the knee before Belgium get the second 2021 Nations League semi-final underway.
The teams are ready
Both teams head out of the tunnel at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. The atmosphere is alright and the players are met with smattering of applause as they make their way onto the pitch.
Belgium vs France - What’s at stake?
A spot in the Nations League final isn’t the only the only reward for the winning team tonight.
Both sides suffered disappointing Euro 2020 campaigns and are in need of a big win. Belgium have been ranked number one in the world for close to a decade but haven’t converted that consistency into a major trophy.
This squad has been tagged Belgium’s ‘golden generation’ and Roberto Martinez will be hoping to head into next year’s World Cup in good form. What better way to start then a victory over France this evening?
Meanwhile for Les Bleus following their Euro 2020 exit they have managed draws with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Ukraine before ending a run of five games without a win in 90 minutes by beating Finland.
Didier Deschamps will now be targeting a win against Belgium to prove his side are back on track as they look to defend their status as world champions in Qatar next year.
Deschamps returns to Turin
France head coach Didier Deschamps returns to Turin this evening where he played for Juventus between 1994-99 and managed the club during the 2006/07 season.
He says it’s a happy return and goes so far as to call Turin his second home. He said:
“It makes me very happy: I’m going to see a lot of people I met at this club again, it’s my second home. After five years as a player, I cut short my stint as a coach. When I did that, it felt like the best decision. Looking back, it’s not the best I’ve taken. With a little more hindsight, with experience, I would have acted differently. I had less perspective; I was more impulsive.”
Belgium vs France prediction: How will Nations League semi-final play out tonight?
Belgium play France tonight in the Uefa Nations League semi-finals, in what is their first meeting since the last four of the World Cup in 2018.
Roberto Martinez’s side advanced past England, Denmark and Iceland to qualify for the second edition of the Nations League finals, while France progressed out of a group that included defending champions Portugal, as well as Sweden and Croatia.
Both sides secured their places last November but have since been in action at the Euro 2020 finals and in World Cup qualifying. Belgium’s run at the Euros was ended by eventual champions Italy in the quarter-finals, while France were eliminated by Switzerland on penalties in the last 16.
Predicting how Belgium vs France will play out tonight
Everything you need to know ahead of the Nations League semi-final clash
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