France beat Belgium 1-0
88′ France 1-0 Belgium
In the blink of an eye, Belgium’s position at this tournament hangs on a knife’s edge.
They have responded to the concession of that goal with two changes: Dodi Lukebakio and Charles De Ketelaere on for Carrasco and Castagne.
France substitutes rushed to celebrate with Kolo Muani
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87′ France 1-0 Belgium
Just the ten France substitutes running on the pitch to celebrate that goal. Not quite what is meant to happen, but I have to say I liked it, all the same.
A cruel deflection off Vertonghen’s knee
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86′ France 1-0 Belgium
Oh, how that is going to hurt for Belgium.
France fairly innocuously moved the ball into the box and into Kolo Muani. He swivelled and seemed to aim a low ball across the six-yard box with his right foot — perhaps hoping for a touch from one of his team-mates — but it flicked off the knee of Vertonghen, wrong-footed Casteels and nestled in the back of the net.
An opening goal befitting of this very disjointed game.
GOAL! Kolo Muani gives France the lead!
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85′ France 1-0 Belgium
The substitute gives France a late lead!
That has woken up the Belgium fans
84′ France 0-0 Belgium
‘Oh Kevin De Bruyne’ echoes round the Dusseldorf Arena. That shot has lifted the Belgian fans’ spirits.
Maignan denies De Bruyne!
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83′ France 0-0 Belgium
Nearly a brilliant goal from Belgium!
Lukaku held the ball up expertly and laid it off to Doku. He showed typically quick feet on the left wing before laying a ball on perfectly for De Bruyne just outside the penalty area.
The Dusseldorf Arena held its breath as the Belgium captain raced onto it and shot, but his effort — while very well struck — was too central and Maignan has able to beat it away.
A rare movement into the centre forward position for Mbappe
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80′ France 0-0 Belgium
Mbappe drifted in to occupy more of a central position before his off-target shot.
I expected to see more interchange between Mbappe and centre forward — whether that was Thuram or Kolo Muani — but that hasn’t happened yet.
Mbappe shoots over
79′ France 0-0 Belgium
I’m not sure how much I’ve written ‘(insert France player) shoots over’ today, but it would take me a long time to count!
Kolo Muani picked out Kounde with a brilliant switch and he rolled the ball into Mbappe in the penalty area. More good movement from him to get there first, but another wayward effort as this one flew over the crossbar.
Vertonghen shown a yellow card
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76′ France 0-0 Belgium
Belgium’s all-time leading appearance maker is the first Belgian to have his name taken by the referee and his manager faces the same fate.
As the ball rolled out of play for a throw-in, Vertonghen deliberately tangled himself up with Kolo Muani, sending the France substitute to the ground. The behaviour of a petulant child from the 37-year-old.
Saliba shoots wide
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74′ France 0-0 Belgium
If Tchouameni isn’t the man you want taking shots, then Saliba certainly isn’t!
He drove into the Belgium penalty area from the right wing and wasn’t closed down — perhaps correctly. His swinger of a left-footed strike was exactly that as Casteels was able to watch it fly wide of his near post.
Tchouameni hasn’t brought his shooting boots
73′ France 0-0 Belgium
France are creating openings but they all seem to fall to Tchouameni.
He’s had four attempts now, but he’s probably not the man you want firing from long distance. He’s scored 12 goals during his career to date, and spent some of this past season at centre-back for Real Madrid.
Maignan saves from Lukaku!
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71′ France 0-0 Belgium
Dare I say this game is starting to open up.
Mangala’s superb driving run dragged Belgium into France’s final third and the ball fell to Lukaku in the penalty area. His left-footed effort was well struck, but the angle was always against him and Maignan was able to parry it away from danger.
Tchouameni fires over
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69′ France 0-0 Belgium
Another long-range effort from Tchouameni and another one that was never going to trouble Casteels.
It seems like Belgium are happy for the France midfielder to keep taking aim from 25 yards plus as that latest one was catching practice for the fans behind the goal.
France still dominating the ball
68′ France 0-0 Belgium
Those changes have disrupted the rhythm of the game slightly, but it is still France who are in control of the ball and, therefore, the tempo.
They have looked far more dangerous in this second half but their lack of an open-play goal in this tournament is a real worry.
While Belgium swapping a forward for a defensive midfielder perhaps looks a negative one on paper, it has released De Bruyne into a more advanced role so he might have more of a say in what remains of this last-16 tie.
Deschamps continues to favour Kolo Muani
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66′ France 0-0 Belgium
Kolo Muani remains such an interesting preference for Deschamps.
Evidently, the head coach is a big fan, but he has had such an inconsistent season with PSG, with limited minutes that would suggest he is not fully match sharp.
But, here is, tasked with leading the line and seeking that first goal from open play.
And Belgium go to their bench too
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65′ France 0-0 Belgium
Openda has been withdrawn by Tedesco and Orel Mangala is on: he’s a very tidy midfielder whose presence should, in theory, allow De Bruyne to play further forward.
Kolo Muani replaces Thuram
64′ France 0-0 Belgium
The first change of the match has seen Randal Kolo Muani replace Thuram.
“Matches are often won in the second half and substitutions,” Didier Deschamps’ assistant Guy Stephan told The Athletic in an exclusive interview. “We talk a lot during and after games. Sometimes there are questions on the bench. He asks my opinion and there’s a certain pressure to get results.”
Well, no pressure lads.
GO FURTHER
The secrets of Didier Deschamps’ France – by the man who knows him best
Finally De Bruyne is involved
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62′ France 0-0 Belgium
And finally, something incisive from Belgium. De Bruyne skips away from Kante and a lovely weighted pass for Carrasco to run through the right channel.
It doesn’t come to anything in the end but, if nothing else, it’s a sign they can get behind the French defence. Maybe they just need a bit more belief.
Superb Hernandez challenge denies Carrasco!
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61′ France 0-0 Belgium
A HUGE challenge from Hernandez, that.
Openda’s relentless pressing forced Saliba into a really poor pass and De Bruyne flicked a switch. He drove into Belgium’s defensive third and fed a through ball into Carrasco.
He looked to be clean through on goal, until Hernandez came across with a mammoth sliding challenge just as he was about to shoot.
The France left-back and his goalkeeper celebrated that like a goal, and rightly so!