On Monday, July 1, the national teams of France and Belgium played in the match of the 1/8 finals of the Euro-2024 playoffs.
Euro 2024: schedule of all play-off matches of the tournament
The match took place in Dusseldorf at the “Merkur Spiel-Arena” stadium. The winner of the confrontation will play with one of the teams in the Portugal-Slovenia pair.
The French played in Group D and rather unexpectedly took second place, ahead of Austria. Didier Deschamps’ team won only one victory once morest the Austrians (1:0), following which they might not cope with the Netherlands (0:0) and Poland (1:1).
The main star of the French, Kylian Mbappe, had problems. The Real forward broke his nose and now plays in a protective mask, and he scored his only goal from the penalty spot.
Belgium is also far from looking its best so far. The fans even booed the team following the draw with Ukraine (0:0). At the start of the group stage, Domenico Tedesco’s wards lost to Slovakia (0:1), and later beat Romania (2:0). It is not yet clear, due to what, apart from De Bruyne and Lukaku, this team is able to beat top opponents.
The teams played 75 matches once morest each other. Belgium won 30 times, France won 26, and 19 matches ended in a draw.
France – Belgium – 1:0
Key: Vertonghen, 85 (own goal)
Team starting lineups:
France: Menghan, Kunde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez, Kante, Chuameni, Rabiot, Griezmann, Thuram, Mbappe
Belgium: Castells, Castagne, Fass, Vertonghen, Teate, Onana, De Bruyne, Doku, Carrasco, Openda, Lukaku
Online broadcast of the match
Final whistle! The French national team reached the quarterfinals thanks to a single own goal.
(photo – EPA-EFE/ABEDIN TAHERKENAREH)
90+2. Doku passed in the penalty area and shot from an acute angle, but hit the defender.
The referee added three minutes.
88. Carrasco and Castagna replaced Lukebacchio and De Quetelare.
85. GOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Kolo Muani in a simple attack received the ball in the opponent’s penalty area, turned and punched, and the ball with a small ricochet from Vertonghen flew into the net!
83. De Bruyne broke through the center and punched hard – Meignan is on the spot!
81. Castells confidently took the ball following a cross from the wing.
76. Yellow card for Vertonghen for a foul on an opponent.
74. It looked dangerous. Saliba punched powerfully – it seemed that the ball was flying into the plane of the goal, but it was not.
71. Moment! Lukaku found himself in a striking position and struck, and Meignan saved the French!
69. Strikes from Griezmann and Chuameni miss the target once more. There are problems with accuracy today.
64. Mangalya replaced Openda in Belgium, Kolo Mouani replaced Thuram in France.
60. Hernandez blocked a shot from Carrasco.
56. Failed to shoot into Mbappe’s touch following a pass from the wing by Kunde.
53. Mbappe made a great move from the flank, avoided the burn and shot, but the ball went over the crossbar.
49. Castells converted the ball for a corner following a shot by Chuameni and a ricochet from Faz.
The second half began.
Break!
(photo – EPA-EFE/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL)
45+1. Mbappe played the ball on the wing and passed to the center, and Chuameni shot very hard, but missed the goal.
The referee added one minute.
43. Tyuram did not get a clever pass from Griezmann.
41. The French had a dangerous attack, but Kunde failed to cross – the ball met the defender of the Belgian national team.
36. Castells got ahead of Thuram and took the ball following a cross from the French.
34. Kunde hung from the flank, and Tyuram did not hit the goal plane with his head!
27. Carrasco punched the defender and demanded a penalty, but Theo Hernandez did not play with his hand, which was confirmed by the referee.
24. Rabiot received a yellow card and will miss the next match.
24. Moment! De Bruyne served softly, and French goalkeeper Meignan kicked the ball away at the last moment!
20. The Belgians created a counterattack: Lukaku passed to the wing, Kastan crossed, and Kunde threw the ball at the goalkeeper.
20. A long shot from Rabiot is too inaccurate.
17. The Belgians are totally in defense, Tedesco’s team still has no chance to even escape in a counterattack.
14. Mbappe played with his partner and shot – the ball touched the defender and flew out of the field.
10. Griezmann hit the bottom very weakly, the goalkeeper easily took the ball.
7. Tyuram on the flank was stopped by the efforts of two Belgian defenders.
4. The French confidently control the ball and go forward, but so far without opportunities. Belgium in defense.
The match has started!
The teams took to the field. Anthems of countries are playing.
