France got here out late as they secured a 1-0 win in opposition to Belgium to e-book their place within the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
As the sport headed into extra-time, Randel Kola Mouni grew to become the hero for France when his Eighty fifth-minute shot deflected off defender Jan Vertonghen and previous goalkeeper Cohen Castells to seal victory.
France managed possession for a lot of the competition and got here closest to breaking the impasse both aspect of the break by way of Marcus Thuram and Aurelien Chouamey, whereas Kylian Mbappe additionally threatened with some dazzling footwork, however his end was inappropriate, as a result of France tried with all its may to verify Castells.
Belgium may have received the sport themselves late on when Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne each compelled good saves from goalkeeper Mike Magnan earlier than a nasty essential second despatched France by way of to the subsequent stage.
Kevin De Bruyne’s late strike nearly gave Belgium the win
Didier Deschamps’ aspect will face the winner of Monday evening’s match between Portugal and Slovenia within the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday (8pm kick-off).
I believe France was the higher crew. Clearly, the standard wasn’t actually there. Not surprisingly, it was the personal objective that determined the sport. You may additionally want a little bit of luck. France saved a clear sheet and in case you do that you just all the time have an opportunity.
Pleasure for France, despair for Belgium…
France have now received three matches in a row in opposition to Belgium.
Excluding the penalty shootout, Deschamps’ crew have misplaced simply one among their final 15 matches on the Euros (eight wins and 6 attracts).
Will they be capable to construct on their success on the 1984 and 2000 European Championships?
France celebrates reaching the final eight
Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku react to Belgium’s 1-0 defeat by France
Neville: Vertonghen will likely be devastated by the massive mistake
Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville talks on ITV concerning the late France worldwide and Vertonghen’s involvement:
“I believe Vertonghen will likely be very dissatisfied [with the goal]and never solely as a result of it’s credited to him as an personal objective.
“He has to shift up. Muani’s wheel would not do something superb. He is a bit sloppy on the flip.
“However he is bought to vary. For those who’re down a yard or two, that is not a failure, that is within the class of unhealthy defending, and he is aware of that as a result of he is an skilled participant.
“I used to be there. I might chalk this as much as a giant mistake on the a part of a quarterback with a whole lot of expertise. He admits it. He will likely be devastated, as a result of what he can even assume: ‘Will this be the final time I’m right here?’ That is what the gamers actually get pleasure from.”
Deschamps: Savor the second
The top coach of the French nationwide crew, Didier Deschamps:
“It is lovely, we performed a giant sport, it was tight, however we loved possession and had extra alternatives. We have now to get pleasure from it, it is an actual achievement. We’re within the quarter-finals, they are going residence.
“We made a whole lot of progress and our opponents have been clearly cautious, even when on paper they’re an attacking crew. We did every thing we may to create probabilities and created greater than they did, however we performed a ready sport and I did not prefer it. however clearly you possibly can’t win with one possession.
“I might have appreciated us to have created extra probabilities, however we’re within the quarter-finals and that’s what issues. Let’s not downplay this second.”
Statistics: Historical past of the match
Who’s enjoying whom within the quarterfinals?
