France’s narrow win over Belgium was a good sign of the quality that new coach Zinedine Zidane has at his disposal, even without captain and leading striker Kylian Mbappé.
France had nine changes from the team that defeated Türkiye in their opening Nations League match. In spite of the rotation, the visitors dominated the majority of the match and won 1-0 in the dying moments at Brussels’ King Baudouin Stadium.
Zidane was under pressure to make significant alterations after France were handed four Nations League games in 10 days and Mbappé missed their game with Türkiye due to a knee injury.
There were a few less experienced players who took advantage of this opportunity. Lucas Da Cunha, Andy Diouf and Jérémy Jacquet all made their debuts, and Estéban Lepaul made his first start for the national team.
Da Cunha was particularly influential in midfield. Zidane allowed the player to have plenty of room to play and he ended the game with 97 touches, proving he wasn’t afraid of the Belgian side.
Diouf was deployed in a different role from his club, at left-back, and Jacquet assisted France against the Belgian attacking threat in the middle of the park.
It was the 88th minute when the game was won. Substitute Michael Olise picked up the ball in his own half, sprinted through the Belgian defence and curled a shot to give France the lead.
The UEFA’s match report also noted that Olise’s late effort was the game’s margin.
Zidane picked up his second win in two games as manager. Türkiye were beaten 1-0 by France in his first match-up, following the departure of former Real Madrid coach, Didier Deschamps.
Zidane applauded the team’s work without the ball as well as their attacking play. He likened it to France’s pressing and desire to move forward despite all of the changes to the starting line-up.
It leaves France on six points from two Group A1 games. Belgium and Italy are 3 points each and Türkiye are still pointless after two games.
Zidane will then lead his team in France against Italy at the Stade de France on Friday.
The early results have also provided the new coach with a wider range of players to choose from. France will have limited time to rest between their games in the Nations League, and rotation could prove to be a key weapon as they go on.
For the moment, the Belgium win has provided Zidane with two victories and six points and proof that a number of players outside the first choice squad can play at international level.
