France are through to the quarter-finals at UEFA EURO 2024 after a late Jan Vertonghen own goal decided a tense last-16 tie against neighbours Belgium in Düsseldorf.
As befitting two teams that have met in recent FIFA World Cup and UEFA Nations League semi-finals, France and Belgium began this encounter showing plenty of mutual respect. That translated into careful early probing, with Les Bleus more busily on the offensive as they tried to unpick their opponents’ five-man defence.
The first real frisson came at the other end, however. Belgium had fallen into a pattern of waiting for counters, but it was from a dead ball that they nearly took the lead. Kevin De Bruyne arced a free-kick into the France box that evaded everyone and forced Mike Maignan – seeing the ball late – to scramble a save with his feet.
That presaged a positive spell from the Red Devils, who were nonetheless fortunate to end the first half level, Marcus Thuram heading narrowly wide from a Jules Koundé cross before Aurélien Tchouameni blazed over. Tchouameni had the first bite after the interval too, his shot from the edge of the area deflected by Wout Faes and batted away by Koen Casteels.
France were building pressure, but their aim was largely askew. Thuram, Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappé all sent efforts over and William Saliba screwed a shot wide, after Romelu Lukaku had at least found the target for Belgium. The Roma forward tested Maignan with a fierce strike, and the France keeper was likewise equal to a De Bruyne drive.
The Red Devils looked like they might make France pay for their spurned chances – until the breakthrough finally came. Substitute Randal Kolo Muani was the instigator, turning in the area and beating Casteels with a shot that took a crucial deflection off Jan Vertonghen. Tough on Belgium, perhaps, but France had long threatened to strike and they can now look forward to the quarter-finals.
