Olise Inspires France's Four-Goal in 14-Minute Rally to Sink Belgium in Nations League
France came from behind to thrash Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France and hand Zinedine Zidane his first home victory since taking charge. Michael Olise came off the bench to claim two goals and an assist in a stunning late surge. The win puts France three points clear at the top of Group A1.

France produced a wild finish at the Stade de France to beat Belgium 4-1 in the Nations League, scoring four goals in the final 14 minutes to turn the match completely on its head. Michael Olise, introduced from the bench, was the catalyst for the comeback with two goals and an assist in a breathtaking closing stretch. The result gives Zinedine Zidane his first home victory as head coach of Les Bleus and puts France in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.
- France scored four goals between the 77th and 90th minutes to erase a 1-0 deficit.
- Michael Olise scored twice and set up Rayan Cherki during the decisive finale.
- Zinedine Zidane claimed his first home win since taking charge of the French national team.
- Dodi Lukébakio had put Belgium in front as they chased a first competitive win over France in 45 years.
- France now sit three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1.
Olise Sparks France's Stunning Comeback Against Belgium
Belgium's game plan worked for more than an hour. Dodi Lukébakio latched on to a superb pass from Roméo Lavia that split the French defence and beat Guillaume Restes to silence the home crowd. Belgium were closing in on something they had not achieved in 45 years: a competitive win over France. But the introduction of Michael Olise shifted the momentum entirely and ignited a French side that had looked short of ideas in the final third.
The comeback began in the 77th minute, when Désiré Doué collected the ball on the edge of the area, turned and fired a low drive beyond Maarten Vandevoordt. Four minutes later, Olise broke down the flank and pulled the ball back for Rayan Cherki to tap home. The Bayern Munich winger, who had also scored a late winner in Brussels a week earlier, took over the game completely: he scrambled in a third goal in the 88th minute and rolled in a fourth in stoppage time after classy work from Doué.
Zidane Rotates Side and Hands Debuts to Yoro and Restes
For the final match of a three-week international window, Zinedine Zidane made sweeping changes, with only Ousmane Dembélé keeping his place in the starting XI. Manchester United defender Leny Yoro and Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes both made their senior debuts. Dembélé once again wore the captain's armband in the absence of the injured Kylian Mbappé and drove the team forward during the difficult moments.
Belgium were missing suspended duo Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, yet still competed with discipline until the late collapse. Vandevoordt, making his debut in goal, produced saves from Esteban Lepaul and Cherki to keep his side in front, but there was no stopping France once they found their rhythm. Zidane admitted his team struggled in the first half, but praised the response and described the second-half display as extraordinary.
France Pull Clear in Group A1 and Close In on Quarter-Finals
The victory moves France three points clear of Italy at the top of Group A1, with Belgium a further point back. A solid performance in the next international window would all but confirm France's place among the last eight of the competition. The margin also strengthens Zidane's project, with the former midfielder still unbeaten since taking over.
Italy Beat Turkey and Hungary Edge Past Ukraine
In another key match in the group, Italy claimed a 3-1 win over Turkey in Bologna thanks to goals from Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito. Turkey suffered a fourth straight Nations League defeat, leaving their hopes of staying in the top tier hanging by a thread. Hungary, meanwhile, needed a late goal from Mark Csinger to beat Ukraine 2-1 in Trnava and remain second in Group B2.
Gyökeres Keeps Scoring and Bosnia Win with a Late Penalty
In Group B4, Viktor Gyökeres scored for a seventh consecutive Nations League match to give Sweden a 1-0 win over Romania. The striker continues to thrive in the competition and keeps Sweden in the hunt for promotion. Bosnia and Herzegovina also picked up three points with a 1-0 victory over Poland, sealed by Ivan Basic's penalty deep in stoppage time.
Group C2 produced a dramatic finish as Burnley forward Marcus Edwards scored the winner in stoppage time to help Cyprus come from behind and beat Latvia 2-1. The Cypriots went behind early but fought back to secure valuable points in their bid to climb the group standings.
Frequently asked questions
How many goals did Michael Olise score against Belgium?
Michael Olise scored two goals in France's 4-1 win over Belgium. He also provided the assist for Rayan Cherki's goal that made it 2-1, cementing his role as the game's standout performer.
What do France need to qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals?
France top Group A1 with a three-point lead over Italy and are in control of their own fate. A win in their next fixture would effectively seal their place in the knockout stage.
How long has it been since Belgium last beat France in a competitive match?
Belgium were chasing their first competitive win over France in 45 years, a drought that continued after France's comeback. Lukébakio gave Belgium the lead, but it was not enough to snap the lengthy run without a victory.