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July 1 – France’s quest for a first European crown in 24 years continues but they were made to fight all the way before securing a 1-0 over neighbours Belgium courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal just as an absorbing if hardly memorable contest was heading for extra time.
On paper, this was the blockbuster heavyweight clash no-one wanted to miss between Europe’s top two nations on ranking, paired in the last-16 only because both somehow failed to win their respective groups.
Despite a staggering array of talent throughout both squads, neither had hit their stride so far in the tournament. France, World Cup winners in 2018 when they beat Belgium in the semi-finals, and then beaten finalists in Qatar, had squeezed through as Group B runners-up after drawing with the Netherlands and Poland.
Didier Deschamps has been coach since 2012 and his normally ruthless team were supposed to set this competition alight. Yet they came into this game having not scored a goal in open play in four matches, including a warm-up friendly at home to Canada.
Kylian Mbappe runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Jeremy Doku, Amadou Onana and Arthur Theate
Belgium, who also finished second in their group, had hardly sparkled either and following a tame 0-0 draw with Ukraine were actually booed off.
Fixtures between the two rivals date back 120 years, with Les Bleus prevailing in their previous two most recent competitive meetings – the 2018 World Cup semi-final and a 2021 Nations League clash.
With both sides having a lot to prove, it promised to be a tense and intriguing affair in Dusseldorf and Belgian manager Domenico Tedesco made his intentions clear with his line-up, going with two strikers and one defensive midfield player.
As for France, Antoine Griezmann was recalled to the line-up while Marcus Thuram started in place of Ousmane Dembele. Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe, hindered by a broken nose suffered against Austria, was again forced to play with an…
Source link : https://www.insideworldfootball.com/2024/07/01/belgian-goal-sends-misfiring-france-last-16/
Author : Paul Nicholson
Publish date : 2024-07-01 20:12:40
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