France 4-1 Belgium: Zidane's super-subs spark stunning comeback win

Welcoming Belgium to the Stade de France, manager Zinedine Zidane rang the changes with 10 rotations in the absence of Kylian Mbappe. France's youthful starting line-up, averaging under 25 years of age, suffered an early setback when Dodi Lukebakio opened the scoring for Belgium in the 35th minute.

In the second half, Zidane's decision to introduce young talents Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki, and Michael Olise completely turned the tide. The explosive impact from the bench inspired Les Bleus to a sensational comeback, sealing a 4-1 victory.

Frustrated first half and Belgium's shock opener

France's youthful starting XI dominated possession but struggled to break down Belgium's highly disciplined counter-attacking system. A sense of frustration enveloped the hosts' attack throughout the first half, as promising chances for Bradley Barcola and Esteban Lepaul went begging.

Having failed to convert their dominance into goals, France were hit by a sucker punch in the 35th minute. Latching onto a sublime long-range pass from Roméo Lavia, Dodi Lukebakio beat the offside trap and slotted a clinical finish past goalkeeper Guillaume Restes to give Belgium a 1-0 lead.

Late 15-minute blitz and Zidane's tactical masterclass

In the second half, manager Zinedine Zidane threw on the youthful attacking trio of Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki, and Désiré Doué.

The tactical gamble paid immediate dividends in the 77th minute when Désiré Doué unleashed a precise left-footed strike to level the score at 1-1. Just four minutes later, Rayan Cherki tapped home from close range to make it 2-1 following a pinpoint cross from Olise.

Belgium's nightmare was compounded by a late brace from Michael Olise in the 88th and 90+1 minutes, both set up by Doué, to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory for Les Bleus.

Tactical masterclass and the Group A1 standings

This marks Zinedine Zidane's first home victory at the Stade de France since taking charge of Les Bleus. His tactical tweaks saw France completely dominate the second half, boasting 65% possession and registering 23 shots over the course of the match.

With these three points, France firmly cement their position at the top of Nations League Group A1, sitting on 10 points after four matches, well clear of rivals Italy and Belgium.

Editorial verdict

The 4-1 comeback victory over Belgium is a resounding statement of Zinedine Zidane's tactical acumen, whilst showcasing the bright future of this young Les Bleus generation. His inspired second-half substitutions proved his elite game-reading ability and capacity to turn a match on its head.

Which young star's performance impressed you the most in this match?