Oulis Strike Lifts France Past Belgium as Zidane's Side Extend Nations League Lead
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in UEFA Nations League A1 group play on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, with substitute Michael Oulis delivering the decisive blow in the 88th minute. Head coach Zinedine Zidane's tactical decisions, including fielding several regular starters on the bench, paid off as Les Bleus claimed their second consecutive win in the group stage. France now sits atop the standings with six points, while Belgium remains in second place with three points.
Key Points
- France's winning goal came in the 88th minute when Oulis collected a pass from Tchouaméni, drove past defenders, and fired a left-footed shot past Belgium goalkeeper Ravens
- Zidane rested several key players including Kylian Mbappé (injured), Aurélien Tchouaméni, Oulis, Adrien Rabiot, and Ousmane Dembélé, who all started on the bench
- Dembélé was brought on in the 68th minute, while Tchouaméni and Oulis entered the match in the 77th minute as France sought a breakthrough
- France dominated possession throughout the match, with midfielder Doué narrowly hitting the crossbar in the 20th minute and later executing a signature Zidane turn before shooting wide
- Belgium created threats through wing crosses but failed to convert clear chances, with goalkeeper Matz Sels making several crucial saves
- In the same group, Italy defeated Turkey 4-1 away, with goals from Alessandro Bastoni (9th minute), Bryan Cristante (22nd minute), and Federico Chiesa (27th minute), while Poland's Krzysztof Piątek scored in the 50th minute
- Group A1 standings: France leads with 6 points, Belgium and Italy each have 3 points, while Turkey remains pointless at the bottom
- In Group B4, Sweden beat Poland 3-1 at home and Bosnia-Herzegovina defeated Romania 4-2 away, with Sweden topping the group on 6 points
- Zidane praised his team's bravery and control, noting that debutants also performed well while emphasizing France's commitment to ball possession
Why It Matters
The victory demonstrates France's squad depth under Zidane, as players stepping in from the bench proved decisive against a strong Belgian side. With crucial Euro 2028 qualification implications, France's winning start provides momentum and flexibility for rotation in upcoming fixtures, while Belgium must regroup after failing to convert early dominance into goals .
The victory demonstrates France's squad depth under Zidane, as players stepping in from the bench proved decisive against a strong Belgian side. With crucial Euro 2028 qualification implications, France's winning start provides momentum and flexibility for rotation in upcoming fixtures, while Belgium must regroup after failing to convert early dominance into goals .