France rubber-stamped their ticket to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium, continuing their dominance over the Red Devils with a fifth successive head-to-head win at a major tournament. The highly anticipated clash between two of FIFA’s top three ranked nations unfolded dramatically, culminating in a late goal that secured Les Blues’ progression.
A Cagey First Half
The opening stages of the match failed to live up to its billing, as both teams were cautious, perhaps overly respectful of each other’s attacking prowess. Despite the presence of pre-tournament Golden Boot contenders Kylian Mbappé and Romelu Lukaku, neither side managed to create significant chances early on. The first notable action came midway through the first half when Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick, albeit tame, took a wicked deflection and required a save from Mike Maignan. This minor scare seemed to awaken the French keeper and his teammates.
France gradually found their rhythm, and the best chance of the half came from a stunning 60-yard pass by Aurélien Tchouaméni, which landed perfectly for Jules Koundé. His cross met the head of Marcus Thuram, who could only direct his effort narrowly wide. By halftime, France had managed just one shot on target, highlighting the lack of clear opportunities.
Second Half Drama
The second half began with France showing more intent. Within five minutes, they matched their first-half tally of shots on target when Tchouaméni fired a long-range effort that forced a smart save from Koen Casteels. Belgium, meanwhile, had their moments, the most notable being Yannick Carrasco’s chance, brilliantly blocked by Theo Hernández.
Despite France’s increasing pressure, it was Belgium who seemed to carve out the better opportunities. De Bruyne, always a threat, found himself in a prime position 20 yards from goal, only for Maignan to pull off a crucial save. As the match appeared destined for extra time, Randal Kolo Muani stepped up, twisting inside the box and seeing his deflected shot off Jan Vertonghen wrong-foot Casteels, finding the back of the net.
The Decisive Moment
Kolo Muani’s goal proved decisive, a stroke of luck that ended Belgium’s hopes and sent France into the quarter-finals. The result marked another disappointing exit for Belgium’s ‘Golden Generation,’ who once again fell short on the big stage. France, on the other hand, look forward to their quarter-final clash against either Portugal or Slovenia, with their sights firmly set on lifting the Euro 2024 trophy.
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