Desire Doue, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise scored in a remarkable finale to propel France to a come-from-behind 4-1 win over Belgium.

2026/2027 UEFA Nations League

4-1

Match Report

With just 13 minutes of normal time left in Monday's Nations League contest at the Stade de France, Zinedine Zidane's unbeaten start as France coach was in real jeopardy.

The visitors led through Dodi Lukebakio's 35th-minute strike, with the forward having burst clear on the counter-attack and finished brilliantly.

Without Kylian Mbappe, France lacked a clinical touch in the first half, with Ousmane Dembele, Maghnes Akliouche, Eduardo Camavinga and Esteban Lepaul seeing half-chances pass them by.

France's profligacy continued after the break, with Lepaul denied from point-blank range, yet Les Bleus' luck changed when Zidane turned to his bench.

Cherki and Olise were the first changes, and though they helped build the pressure, it was not until Doue entered the fray that they finally made the breakthrough.

Doue superbly created space on the edge of the box and, on the turn, drilled a sublime finish into the bottom-right corner.

The turnaround was complete four minutes later, as Olise drove to the byline and steered it back for Cherki, who duly finished.

AND YES RAYAN! A quick-fire double! Olise bursts forward, lays it off, and Cherki finishes with one touch! Les Bleus take the lead 🇫🇷2-1🇧🇪 l #FRABEL https://t.co/PUOsy76Irw

— French Team (@FrenchTeam) October 5, 2026

Olise got in on the act in the 88th minute, nudging home from Doue's cutback.

And the same pair combined to complete a stunning rout in stoppage time, with Olise sliding in a crisp effort after latching onto Doue's sumptuous pass.

Super-subs to the rescue

France had all the ball, all the territory and all the intent for the vast majority of the second half, yet it really did seem as though they were short of ideas.

It seemed like Zidane would be left to bemoan Mbappe's absence, and that France's hopes of qualifying from Nations League Group A1 could be in the balance heading into the November fixtures.

Instead, their star power off the bench proved just too much for Belgium to handle.

Doue, Cherki and Olise were all spellbinding. Each of them crafted two chances, while Olise ended up having four shots, a total bettered only by Dembele (five).

Zidane made 10 changes to his starting XI, but he always knew he had real, world-class quality in reserve. This win did not come easy, but once France's talent clicked into gear, there was nothing Belgium could do.

France finished with 23 shots for a combined 2.0 expected goals, but that does not tell the whole story.

Belgium created opportunities worth a combined 0.59 xG, yet their second-half xG came in at just 0.04, as they were completely dominated.

It is now three wins from four for Zidane to start his tenure, while Mark van Bommel's Belgium sit on six points from a potential 12.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

1' Dembele has a go from the edge of the box, but his effort sails well wide

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7' Dembele strikes the ball towards goal, but his effort is well blocked by one of the defenders

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11' Lukaku connects with a pass around the edge of the box and aims a shot, but it is saved

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13' Lukebakio showcases his skills as he weaves past defenders to keep hold of the ball

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16' Barcola latches onto a pull back in the box right in front of goal, but his shot is saved

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20' Head coach Zidane easily brings down an incoming ball

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21' Lukebakio plays a lofted ball into Raskin, but the ball flies off the top of his head and goes high

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23' Lepaul darts into the penalty area to latch on to a pass, and his low drive is denied by the keeper

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29' Highlight from France vs Belgium

33' Match Event for France vs Belgium

35' GOAL! France 0-1 Belgium (Dodi Lukébakio)



48' Match Event for France vs Belgium

53' Highlight from France vs Belgium

59' Highlight from France vs Belgium

61' Highlight from France vs Belgium

67' Match Event for France vs Belgium

70' Match Event for France vs Belgium

72' Match Event for France vs Belgium

77' GOAL! France 1-1 Belgium (Désiré Doué)



81' GOAL! France 2-1 Belgium (Rayan Cherki)



88' GOAL! France 3-1 Belgium (Michael Olise)

91' GOAL! France 4-1 Belgium (Michael Olise)

Line-ups

France XI: Dembele, Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, Camavinga, Manu Koné, Estéban Lepaul, Barcola, Andy Diouf, Maghnes Akliouche, Yoro, Guillaume Restes

Subs: Maignan, Rabiot, Jean Butez, Lucas Da Cunha, Kalulu, Cherki, Olise, Adrien Truffert, Doue

Belgium XI: Lukaku, Vanaken, Mechele, Castagne, Dodi Lukébakio, Nicolas Raskin, Maarten Vandevoordt, Nathan Ngoy, Lavia, Diego Moreira, Joaquin Seys

Subs: Trossard, Openda, Senne Lammens, Maxim De Cuyper, De Ketelaere, Zeno Debast, Arthur Theate, Mandela Keita, Kyriani Sabbe, Matias Fernandez-Pardo, Mike Penders, Mika Godts