France v Belgium LIVE: Euro 2024 result and reaction as Jan Vertonghen own goal proves decisive
France 1-0 Belgium: Les Bleus battled past the Red Devils to earn a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024
France reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after edging past Belgium in a scrappy and tight contest in Dusseldorf.
Les Bleus were the more proactive side, looking to feed Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Thuram the ball as they ventured further up the pitch with Belgium electing for a back five approach off the ball. Thuram met a cross with a solid header in the first half only to send it over the top. That was a story of the match for France. Wonderful build-up play to bring the ball into the penalty area but no clinical finishing. Midway through the second half they’d had 19 shots with just one on target.
Belgium had their moments too. As the game wore on Romelu Lukaku spun into the 18-yard area and forced a save from Mike Maignan at the near post and Kevin De Bruyne came close with blazing effort from range only for Maignan to keep him out too.
Then came the decisive moment. Jules Kounde giving the ball to N’Golo Kante, Kante slipping Randal Kolo Muani into the box, Kolo Muani’s shot hitting Jan Vertonghen, the ball deflecting past Koen Casteels and crossing the line. Belgium will be gutted, France ecstatic. Les Bleus are into the quarter-finals.
Relive the action from France v Belgium in Dusseldorf below:
France 0-0 Belgium
51 mins: Save!
France sweep quickly up the pitch and set up Tchouameni for a shot from range. This time he goes for a side-footed curler which looks to be sneaking into the far bottom corner after taking a deflection.
Koen Casteels makes his move late and leaps to the left to palm the ball wide of the post.
France 0-0 Belgium
48 mins: Belgium work the ball over to Yannick Carrasco on the right wing. He swings a cross into the penalty area but can’t find a teammate as Dayot Upamencano tidies up for France.
Nice start to the second half from Belgium.
Second half! France 0-0 Belgium
Belgium kick off the second half knowing they’ll need to improve in the attacking third if they’re to get something out of this one.
HT France 0-0 Belgium
Here’s what Ally McCoist on ITV commentary had to say about Tchouameni’s chance right at the end of the half:
“Tchouameni has got to hit the target. Brilliant from Mbappe. The speed of his feet is incredible and he showed great strength to hold the defender off.
“I think that shot from Tchouameni, he has to try and curl that. He was always leaning back.”
HT France 0-0 Belgium
In terms of stats France had edged possession with 59% compared to Belgium’s 41%. Les Bleus had nine shots in the first half but, and this was the main issue, only one of them was on target.
Still, it’s a stronger position than Belgium who only had one shot over the first 45 minutes.
Half-time! France 0-0 Belgium
45+1 mins: Nothing to separate the two teams in the first 45 minutes. There have been a couple of positive moments in front of goal for Belgium but France have wrestled the momentum to their side.
Kylian Mbappe looks sharp but Les Bleus have been wasteful in front of goal. All to play for after the break.
France 0-0 Belgium
45 mins: Chance!
Exceptional work from Kylian Mbappe who weaves into the box and uses his sublime footwork to get around three defenders before slipping a pass to Aurelien Tchouameni.
Tchouameni shoots with his first touch but lifts the ball up and over the goal.
France 0-0 Belgium
42 mins: N’Golo Kante and Antoine Griezmann combine with some intricate passes in the centre of the pitch before Griezmann dinks the ball into the box hoping to find Marcus Thuram.
The forward stretches for the ball but can’t get it under control and it bobbles through to Koen Casteels in goal.
France 0-0 Belgium
39 mins: On a number of occasions France have managed to work the ball into the heart of Belgium’s penalty area but they haven’t been able to nail the final pass to set up a shot.
Belgium’s back three are holding firm and keeping the French at bay. So much so, Tchouameni decides to shoot from range and drills a decent strike wide of the post.
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