Michael Olise came off the bench to score a superb late winner as France defeated Belgium 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on September 28, 2026.
The Bayern Munich winger struck in the 88th minute, breaking the deadlock in a closely contested encounter and giving c’s side their second consecutive victory in Group A1. The result moves France to the top of the group with six points from two matches.
France controlled much of the game and created several opportunities, but Belgium’s defensive organisation kept the visitors scoreless for most of the evening. It took a moment of individual brilliance from Olise to separate the two sides.
The defeat also ended Belgium’s six-match unbeaten home run, while France extended their winning streak against their neighbours to six consecutive matches.
Olise Makes the Difference off the Bench
With the match approaching its final minutes, Olise produced the decisive moment after being introduced in the 77th minute.
The French winger collected the ball inside his own half and immediately drove forward, carrying possession into Belgium’s defensive territory. Maxim De Cuyper attempted to challenge him, but Olise held off the defender before calmly slotting the ball into the bottom corner in the 88th minute.
It was a goal that reflected both his pace and composure under pressure. Having entered the match as a substitute, Olise provided the attacking spark France needed to turn their dominance into a winning result.
The late strike left Belgium with little time to respond and secured another important victory for Zidane as he continues his tenure as France head coach.
France Dominate Possession but Face Belgian Resistance
France enjoyed the greater share of possession, controlling approximately 65 per cent of the ball and registering seven shots on target compared with Belgium’s two.
Despite that advantage, the visitors found it difficult to turn their control into goals. Belgium remained organised and worked to limit the space available to France’s attacking players, keeping the contest level deep into the second half.
France came close to taking the lead on more than one occasion. Désiré Doué struck the crossbar, while Lucas Da Cunha saw an effort hit the post, as Les Bleus continued to threaten the Belgian goal.
Those missed opportunities kept Belgium in the match and raised the possibility that the hosts could take something from the encounter despite having less possession and fewer shots on target.
However, Olise’s late intervention finally broke Belgium’s resistance.
Belgium Threaten but Cannot Find an Equaliser
Belgium also had moments of attacking promise, particularly during the opening stages and in the closing minutes.
The hosts applied early pressure and came close through Brandon Mechele, whose header was blocked as Belgium looked to take advantage of their home support.
Under head coach Mark van Bommel, Belgium had entered the match with confidence after winning 2-0 away to Italy in their Nations League opener. They showed periods of resilience against France, but struggled to create enough clear opportunities to seriously trouble the visitors.
After Olise’s goal, Belgium pushed forward in search of an equaliser. They created late chances and attempted to put France under pressure, but could not find the breakthrough.
France held on to secure a clean sheet and claim all three points in Brussels.
Mbappé Misses Out as Zidane Makes Changes
France were without captain and attacking talisman Kylian Mbappé, who missed the match after injuring his knee while scoring the winner against Turkey in Zidane’s first game in charge.
His absence meant France had to adjust their attacking approach, with the coach making several changes to the starting line-up.
One of the notable selections was Esteban Lepaul, who made his first start for the national team. France still demonstrated their ability to control possession and create opportunities, even without one of their most influential players.
Olise’s contribution from the bench underlined the depth available to Zidane, with the substitute making an immediate impact when France needed a decisive moment.
The victory will provide further encouragement for the coach as he continues to shape the team and assess his options across the squad.
France Move Top of Group A1
The win gives France six points from their opening two matches and places them at the top of UEFA Nations League Group A1.
Belgium and Italy both have three points, leaving the group finely balanced as the campaign continues. Belgium had started with an impressive away victory over Italy, but their defeat at home means they now have work to do to keep pace with France.
For Les Bleus, the result represents a strong start under Zidane. Two wins from two have given France early momentum, while the victory over a major European rival offers an important boost to their confidence.
France’s ability to remain patient, continue creating chances and eventually find a winner will also be a positive aspect of their performance.
France Extend Winning Run Against Belgium
The result continues France’s recent success in this fixture, with Les Bleus now having won their last six matches against Belgium.
It also brought an end to Belgium’s six-game unbeaten streak on home soil, making the result a significant one for both teams.
Although Belgium defended well for long periods and threatened at key moments, France’s greater attacking output ultimately proved decisive. Olise’s late goal ensured that the visitors left Brussels with maximum points.
Rematch in Paris on October 5
Attention will now turn to the next meeting between the two sides, which is scheduled to take place in Paris on October 5.
Belgium will have an opportunity to respond and attempt to close the gap at the top of Group A1. France, meanwhile, will aim to maintain their winning momentum and strengthen their position in the group.
The first encounter was decided by a moment of individual quality rather than sustained attacking pressure, and the rematch could provide another closely fought contest.
For now, France can celebrate a valuable away victory, with Michael Olise’s late strike proving the difference in Brussels.
Esther Afriyie Kumah is the Digital Media & Operations Manager and a writer AL Media Sports, the sports division of AL Media Group. She specializes in sports journalism, content and video production, covering Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, and African football with in-depth match reports, tactical analysis, player ratings, and expert insights.