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
6 mins: These opening minutes have seen Belgium looking to get forward in quick bursts of pace and get the French defence turning towards their own goal.
France have been more methodical on the ball, passing it around and looking for space in between the lines. Both teams still trying to find their feet in the game.
France 0-0 Belgium
3 mins: Kylian Mbappe takes the first shot of the match but can’t find the target from the edge of the box. Belgium look to play out from the back but go nowhere.
The ball comes back to goalkeeper Koen Casteels who smokes a hopeful ball down the pitch. Lois Openda chases after the dropping ball but Dayot Upamecano tracks him and recovers possession for France.
Kick off! France 0-0 Belgium
France get the ball rolling in Dusseldorf. They work it over to the left wing but Belgium close the ball down quickly. Les Bleus maintain possession and take their time advancing up the pitch, switch it from side-to-side.
France vs Belgium prediction
Belgium have the weapons to hurt France, but it really hasn’t clicked for them and the French defence has been impressive so far. Up front, France have struggled at times, but Kylian Mbappe and co. will have enough to get past a weak Belgian backline.
France 2-0 Belgium.
France vs Belgium
Belgium have advanced to the knockout stages of a third consecutive Euros, having reached the quarter-final at both Euros 2016 and 2020.
The Red Devils have won their past four last-16 games at major tournaments (World Cup/Euros) since defeat to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup (0-2).
France vs Belgium
France scored just two goals in the Euro 2024 group stage, their fewest in a major tournament group stage since the 2010 World Cup (one).
Their two goals came via a Max Wober own goal for Austria and a Kylian Mbappe penalty, having 47 non-penalty attempts without finding the net.
The curious case of Antoine Griezmann and France’s biggest decision of Euro 2024
A French talisman has been camouflaged. Less of Kylian Mbappe has been seen than expected: he missed the stalemate with the Netherlands. When he returned against Poland, some of his face was concealed by the mask protecting his broken nose.
If Antoine Griezmann has been obscured, it is for different reasons. If Mbappe’s return formed one notable detail on the teamsheet for the Poland draw, an absentee was perhaps still more significant. For the first time in a tournament game since 2016 when there was something at stake, Griezmann did not start for France.
He has been the great constant: the footballer who played in a world record 84 consecutive games for his country. His tally of 132 caps is rare: rarer still is that they have all come for the same manager. Griezmann and Didier Deschamps formed a double act that has underpinned the French era of supremacy and consistency.
The curious case of Antoine Griezmann and France’s major decision
The Atletico Madrid star has suddenly found himself on the outside and left ‘frustrated’ by Didier Deschamps’ decision ahead of a last 16 tie against Belgium
France vs Belgium
France have won all four of their previous matches against Belgium at a major tournament (World Cup and Euros), scoring 13 goals and conceding only three.
Their only previous meeting at a Euros was 40 years ago, in 1984 - France won 5-0 in the group stages courtesy of a Michel Platini hat-trick and goals from Alain Giresse and Luis Fernandez on their way to their first European Championship trophy.
France vs Belgium
This will be France and Belgium’s 76th encounter. Belgium are France’s most frequent all-time opponent, having faced them nearly twice as much as any other team (39 meetings each with Italy and Switzerland).
Meanwhile, Belgium have only faced the Netherlands (129 times) on more occasions than the French.
As France await, Belgium will look to one man – but can he even save them?
As Belgium’s group-stage campaign came to an end at Euro 2024, there was only one attribute as evident as their innate collective talent: their dependency on Kevin De Bruyne, a player who is not even at his best right now.
This Belgium team has been built upon the fading remnants of a golden generation and the glistening jewels of the next one, but so far in Germany, they have failed to consistently combine. Those shortcomings resulted in the ‘shock’ opening loss to Slovakia, and they resulted in this dispiriting draw with Ukraine.
There were reasons to be encouraged last week, as Belgium saw off Romania and Group E became a literal level playing field, with three points held by each team. Yet most of those reasons could be traced back to De Bruyne.
As France await, Belgium will look to one man – but can he even save them?
Ukraine 0-0 Belgium: Domenico Tedesco’s team are too reliant on De Bruyne, a player who has struggled for consistency in Germany
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