Football world champions France won against Belgium on Thursday evening after an impressive comeback. The team has made amends for the shameful knockout of the last sixteen at the EM and reached the final of the Nations League. Coach Didier Deschamps’ Equipe tricolore won 3-2 despite a 2-0 deficit in Turin and will now face Spain on Sunday in Milan, who had won 2-1 on Wednesday against European champions Italy.
Karim Benzema (62nd minute), Kylian Mbappé with a penalty kick (69th) and Theo Hernandez (90th) scored the goals for the French who had failed at the end of June at the European Championship on penalties in Switzerland. Belgium had taken the lead through Yannick Carrasco (37th) and star striker Romelu Lukaku (41st), but missed revenge for the defeat in the 2018 World Cup semi-finals after the weak second half. This means that the Red Devils have to continue their first international title wait since the Olympic victory in 1920.
The French had called their dream storm with Kylian Mbappé, Karim Benzema and Antoine Griezmann. But first it was the Belgian team that showed the troubled world champion the limits. Driven by superstar De Bruyne, the Belgians presented the more mature play system and were also significantly more dangerous in front of the goal.
“I want to win a tournament,” announced Lukaku. And the striker went straight ahead when he forced France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris to make a brilliant save (4th). Then Mbappé also provided accents on the opposite side.
After a shot from twelve meters, France is shocked
The leadership of the Red Devils was initiated by De Bruyne with his pass to Carrasco. Atletico Madrid’s man duped Bayern defender Benjamin Pavard with a hook and shot from twelve meters. France was shocked and received the next low blow. Again it was De Bruyne who played for Lukaku this time. The massive striker passed Lucas Hernandez, the other Munich defender in the French team, with a body deception and scored from an acute angle to make it 2-0.
But that was by no means the decision. France gained overweight after the break and had scoring chances. If Griezmann failed from short position (58th), Benzema did better: After a pass from Mbappé, the Real Madrid striker was not impressed by three or four opponents.
France pushed further. After Youri Tielemans fouled Griezmann, referee Daniel Siebert initially refused the penalty but reversed his decision after contacting the VAR. This time Mbappé, who had missed against Switzerland, showed no nerves and scored to equalize.
Then the events rolled over: Lukaku’s goal was not given due to offside position. On the other side, Paul Pogba hit the crossbar with a free kick, before Hernandez let the French cheer with a powerful shot.