Michael Olise started on the bench at the Stade de France on Monday. By full-time, he had two goals and an assist to his name. The Bayern Munich winger led a stunning fightback.
France beat Belgium 4-1 in the Nations League. Les Bleus trailed for 42 minutes before scoring four times late on. The result also handed Zinedine Zidane his first home win as France head coach.
A Quiet Start for Les Bleus
Zidane made 10 changes to the side that drew 1-1 with Italy three days earlier. Only Ousmane Dembele kept his place, and he again wore the captain’s armband. Kylian Mbappe missed out through injury.
Two players made their France debuts. Manchester United defender Leny Yoro started at the back. Toulouse goalkeeper Guillaume Restes took the gloves.
Belgium also arrived without key names. Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans both sat out through suspension. Yet the visitors looked sharper for much of the first half.
They struck in the 35th minute. Romeo Lavia split the French defence with a superb through ball. Dodi Lukebakio raced clear and finished calmly past Restes.
France had plenty of the ball but struggled to create clear chances. Belgium stayed compact and defended with real discipline. At half-time, the visitors led 1-0.
That scoreline carried extra weight. Belgium had not beaten France in a competitive match for 45 years. For long spells, it looked as though that run would finally end.
Zidane Turns to His Bench
The turning point came on the hour mark. Zidane sent on Desire Doué and Olise in the 60th minute. Rayan Cherki, another player who began on the bench, was also involved.
The changes lifted France almost at once. Olise stretched Belgium down the right flank. Doue drifted inside and hunted for space between the lines.
Belgium debutant Maarten Vandevoordt held firm for a while. He saved efforts from Esteban Lepaul and Cherki as the pressure built. But the visitors could not hold out forever.
In the 77th minute, Doue collected the ball near the edge of the box. He turned and fired a low, left-footed shot past Vandevoordt. Suddenly, the Stade de France came alive.
Four minutes later, France led. Olise burst down the right and pulled the ball back into the area. Cherki met the cutback and turned it home for 2-1.
Three substitutes had now flipped the match in just four minutes.
Olise Takes Over in Three Minutes
Olise was not finished. With two minutes of normal time left, he struck again. He scrambled the ball home in the 88th minute to make it 3-1.
Then came the finishing touch. In the first minute of stoppage time, France broke at speed. Doue slipped a clever pass into Olise’s path. The winger rolled the ball past Vandevoordt for 4-1.
That made it two goals in roughly three minutes. Add the assist for Cherki, and Olise had a hand in three goals. He managed all of that in about 30 minutes on the pitch.
Doue deserves plenty of credit too. He scored the equaliser and laid on the pass for Olise’s second goal. Between them, the two substitutes changed the whole night.
Zidane was quick to praise his match-winner afterwards. He described what Olise is doing as simply exceptional.
A Stunning International Break
This was no one-off for the 24-year-old. Olise has been France’s standout player across this international window.
He scored the only goal in last week’s 1-0 win over Belgium in Brussels. He also set up the winner in a 1-0 victory in Turkey. Then he found the net again in the 1-1 draw with Italy.
Monday’s brace takes his tally to four goals and two assists in four games. That is six goal involvements from just four appearances.
Numbers like that are hard to ignore. Olise has given Zidane a real selection headache on the right flank. Once Mbappe is fit again, the competition for places in attack will only grow.
Zidane Stays Unbeaten
The win keeps Zidane unbeaten after four matches in charge. He has three wins and one draw so far.
The former Ballon d’Or winner sounded upbeat after the final whistle. He said he felt very optimistic about what lies ahead. However, he admitted France still have areas to improve.
“We can do better, and we will do better,” Zidane said.
He pointed to the 10 points as proof of steady progress. He also valued the work done with his players and staff. In his view, two quality weeks together have laid solid foundations.
How Group A1 Looks Now
France sit top of Group A1 on 10 points. Italy are second on seven, three points behind. Belgium are third with six.
Italy kept pace with a 3-1 win over Turkey in Bologna. Gianluca Scamacca, Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito all scored for the Azzurri. Aral Simsir had briefly levelled for Turkey just after the hour.
Turkey remain bottom after four defeats from four matches. Their hopes of progress are all but gone.
France travel to Milan to face Italy next month. They then host Turkey in their final group game. A win in Milan would put Les Bleus within touching distance of the quarter-finals.
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