Substitutes Désiré Doué, Ryan Cherki and two goals from Michael Olise launched the late pyrotechnics on Monday night at the Stade de France as France bedazzled Belgium 4-1 to maintain the lead of their Nations League pool.

Issued on: 05/10/2026 – 23:59Modified: 06/10/2026 – 00:00

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Before the fourth game in League A Group 1, France head coach Zinedine Zidane said that he would rotate players for the tie.

And the 54-year-old kept his word with 10 changes to the line-up that started the 1-1 draw with Italy at the Stade de France on Friday and debuts for goalkeeper Guillaume Restes and defender Leny Yoro.

Only skipper Ousmane Dembélé remained from the stalemate that left France top of the group with seven points.

Belgium’s head coach Mark van Bommel also shuffled his pack. There was no room for veteran midfielder Kevin De Bruyne but an international debut for goalkeeper Martin Vandevoort.

As France dominated possession, he was the busier of the two debutant keepers. He got down sharply in the first-half to gather Esteban Lepaul’s snapshot on the turn and foiled Bradley Barcola’s attempt to slip the ball past him into the net from a tight angle.

Lukébakio silences home supporters

Against the run of play, Belgium took the lead in the 35th minute.

Dodi Lukébakio ran on to a pass from Romeo Lavia and swept his shot past Restes.

And though the hosts continued to dominate possession, they failed to find their way past Vandevoort.

On the hour mark, Zidane sent on Cherki, Olise and Lucas Da Cunha, Magnes Akliouche, skipper Ousmane Dembelé and Manu Koné came off.

But still Belgium held firm. Doué entered the fray in the 72nd minute as a replacement for his former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Bradley Barcola.

Mbappé, Dembélé, Olise dazzle up front but Maignan makes it possible

And within five minutes of his arrival, he drew France level.

Four minutes after the equaliser, Olise surged down the right wing and pulled the ball back for Cherki to stab the ball past Vandevoort.

With the French fans in the Stade de France rediscovering their voice, the Doué and Olise show took centre stage for the final two goals.

“We played well at the end,” Olise told French broadcaster TF1.

“It’s always tough against a team that defends close to its goal,” added the 24-year-old who scored the only goal of the game against Belgium in Brussels on 28 September.

“But we continued to work hard and it paid off.”

France lead their pool with 10 points after four games. Italy moved up to second on seven points following a 3-1 win over Turkey.

Belgium lie third with six points. 

Zidane stresses role as second fiddle to France players ahead of Turkey clash

The top two from the four groups in League A advance to the last eight next March.

The semi-finals will be played on 9 and 10 June 2027 and the final on 13 June.

“We knew that with the substitutions could change the course of the game,” Zidane told TF1. 

“They can do that because these are players of great quality. But once again, it was a complete team performance, whatever happened.

“The entire squad has been good over these past two weeks and four games. Everyone has played their part and that’s what I will take away.”