France beat Belgium with Kolo Muani and Dembele goals / Photo: Franck FIFE - AFP
France beat Belgium with Kolo Muani and Dembele goals
Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals as France bounced back from a home loss to Italy at the weekend by beating Belgium 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League on Monday.
It was not a full-strength French team that took to the field for the game in Lyon, with captain Kylian Mbappe dropping out as one of eight changes made by coach Didier Deschamps.
France lost 3-1 to Italy in Paris on Friday despite taking the lead inside 13 seconds, while Belgium came into this match fresh from beating Israel by the same scoreline.
This game was a repeat of the Euro 2024 last-16 tie which France won 1-0 in Duesseldorf thanks to a late own goal.
Les Bleus went ahead here just before the half-hour mark, Kolo Muani applying the finish after Dembele's mishit shot was pushed out by Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
A Belgian side captained by Kevin De Bruyne could not find an equaliser and France scored again on 57 minutes thanks to a fine individual effort by Dembele.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger skipped inside from the right wing before blasting a shot into the net on his left foot.
Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Michael Olise were among the players who came off the bench for France in the second half, as they saw out a victory which will boost confidence after the disappointing defeat by Italy.
The Italians are on top of Group A2 with six points out of six after beating Israel 2-1 on Monday.
France and Belgium have three points apiece, while Israel are bottom without a point.
The next matches are in October, including Italy playing Belgium in Rome, and Israel meeting France on neutral territory in Budapest.
M.Stevenson--EWJ
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