July 1 – France’s quest for a first European crown in 24 years continues but they were made to fight all the way before securing a 1-0 over neighbours Belgium courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal just as an absorbing if hardly memorable contest was heading for extra time.
On paper, this was the blockbuster heavyweight clash no-one wanted to miss between Europe’s top two nations on ranking, paired in the last-16 only because both somehow failed to win their respective groups.
Despite a staggering array of talent throughout both squads, neither had hit their stride so far in the tournament. France, World Cup winners in 2018 when they beat Belgium in the semi-finals, and then beaten finalists in Qatar, had squeezed through as Group B runners-up after drawing with the Netherlands and Poland.
Didier Deschamps has been coach since 2012 and his normally ruthless team were supposed to set this competition alight. Yet they came into this game having not scored a goal in open play in four matches, including a warm-up friendly at home to Canada.
Belgium, who also finished second in their group, had hardly sparkled either and following a tame 0-0 draw with Ukraine were actually booed off.
Fixtures between the two rivals date back 120 years, with Les Bleus prevailing in their previous two most recent competitive meetings – the 2018 World Cup semi-final and a 2021 Nations League clash.
With both sides having a lot to prove, it promised to be a tense and intriguing affair in Dusseldorf and Belgian manager Domenico Tedesco made his intentions clear with his line-up, going with two strikers and one defensive midfield player.
As for France, Antoine Griezmann was recalled to the line-up while Marcus Thuram started in place of Ousmane Dembele. Meanwhile Kylian Mbappe, hindered by a broken nose suffered against Austria, was again forced to play with an uncomfortable protective mask he reportedly loathes with a vengeance.
It was time to throw off the shackles with Portugal or Slovenia awaiting the winner. All the more so because elimination in the last 16 was certainly not what either came here for.
Indeed, with so much talent on show and 13 goals scored in the previous three games between the teams, there was the prospect of a mouth-watering contest. Yet it was anything but in a cagey first half. Yes, both teams looked comfortable on the ball, playing to feet whenever possible (England, take note) and eye-catching it certainly was.
But not much end product. France dominated possession but for all their technical ability, the closest we came to a goal in the opening 25 minutes went to Belgium when a wicked Kevin De Bruyne freekick was kicked clear by Mike Maignan, who appeared to lose track of the flight of the ball.
Moments later the Belgians, on the counter-attack, had another chance through Yannick Carrasco’s fierce drive that was blocked by the French defence.
France, by contrast, were once again ominously lacking a cutting edge though Marcus Thuram planted a header wide on 33 minutes when he should have hit the target and Tchouameni thrashed in a shot that whistled past the post.
Mbappe had just started to influence proceedings when the halftime whistle sounded but for all the pre-match anticipation, it was more a chess game than a classic and all rather disappointing.
There had to be far better to come in terms of excitement – and there was. Just.
Tchouameni forced Koen Casteels into a smart save as France stepped it up while Thuram mistimed a header and skied it over the bar.
Deschamps’ team were getting closer but still couldn’t score. Mbappe burst inside from the left and drove narrowly over, then completely mistimed his shot trying to get on the end of a right-wing cross.
The Belgian fans sensed it might be their day and when their team nicked the ball off France in midfield, they would have been in on goal but for a sensational tackle by Theo Hernandez on Yannick Carrasco. Big chance thwarted just on the hour.
It seemed one goal would settle it but for which of these two powerhouses?
As the game opened up, Maignan got down low to save from Romelu Lokaku, the big striker’s first major contribution, while Saliba’s curling effort for France flew wide.
With the clock ticking and nerves beginning to jangle, Tedesco was booked in the dugout for protesting a yellow card for Vertonghen. Suddenly a pocket of space opened up for de Bruyne. Would this be the Manchester City magician’s moment? He hit it sweet but Maignan pushed it to safety.
And then, on 84 minutes, the deadlock was broken. France pinged the ball around the Belgian box and when it fell to Randal Kolo Muani, the substitute’s half-hit effort was deflected by the luckless Vertonghen’s knee past the wrongfooted Casteels.
It would not have been going in otherwise but France, rather like England, are now in the last eight without being anywhere near their best. In fact thanks to two own goals and a penalty. But as they so often do, they found a way to win.
By contrast, it was the cruellest way to go out of the tournament for a battling Belgium side who did a lot of things right yet still wait for that elusive first major trophy.
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