Les Bleus turn the Belgian waffle into a soufflé

France turned Belgium’s defense into a revolving door, rattling the net four times while the Red Devils scraped a lone consolation. The Nations League fixture was less a match and more a one‑man show for the French front‑line, who reminded everyone why they’re the continent’s benchmark.

From the first whistle, Kylian Mbappé announced his intent, darting past the Belgian backline and slamming home a clinical finish in the 12th minute. The goal set the tone: France were not there to negotiate, they were there to dominate. Antoine Griezmann, ever the metronome, linked play with a crisp pass to Ousmane Dembélé, who added a second strike before the half‑hour mark. Belgium’s response came in the form of a half‑way line header from Romelu Lukaku, but it was a solitary sparkle in an otherwise bleak night for Brussels.

The second half saw France tighten the screws. Paul Pogba, now playing with a calm that belies his reputation for drama, orchestrated a 68th‑minute thunderbolt that found Mbappé again, his second of the night. A late corner saw the French left‑back, Jules Koundé, rise above the chaos to nod in the fourth. Belgium’s consolation came from a desperate long‑range effort by Kevin De Bruyne, but it was too little, too late.

Statistically, France’s possession hovered around 58 %, with a shot tally of 14 to Belgium’s six. The midfield duel was clearly won by the French, who covered 1.2 km on average compared to Belgium’s 0.9 km. The defensive line kept a clean sheet until the 78th minute, when a mis‑communicated back‑pass gifted Lukaku a chance he didn’t waste.

What does this mean for the table? France, previously languishing somewhere mid‑table, now catapult into the top‑two chase, their goal difference swelling to a healthy +5. Belgium, who entered the game hoping to claw back into contention, slip a rung lower, their morale bruised and their points tally stagnant. The gap between the two camps has widened dramatically, and the ripple will be felt in the next round of fixtures.

The performance also reignites the conversation around squad selection. With Mbappé and Griezmann both hitting 9.0, the French manager has a clear hierarchy to follow. Belgium, on the other hand, must reckon with a midfield that failed to impose itself, a glaring area for overhaul.

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Player Ratings

• Kylian Mbappé (France) – 9.0
• Antoine Griezmann (France) – 8.5
• Paul Pogba (France) – 8.0
• Ousmane Dembélé (France) – 7.5
• Jules Koundé (France) – 7.5
• Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) – 6.0
• Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium) – 5.5