France v Belgium LIVE: Euro 2024 result and reaction as Jan Vertonghen own goal proves decisive
France 1-0 Belgium: Les Bleus battled past the Red Devils to earn a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024
France reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 after edging past Belgium in a scrappy and tight contest in Dusseldorf.
Les Bleus were the more proactive side, looking to feed Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Thuram the ball as they ventured further up the pitch with Belgium electing for a back five approach off the ball. Thuram met a cross with a solid header in the first half only to send it over the top. That was a story of the match for France. Wonderful build-up play to bring the ball into the penalty area but no clinical finishing. Midway through the second half they’d had 19 shots with just one on target.
Belgium had their moments too. As the game wore on Romelu Lukaku spun into the 18-yard area and forced a save from Mike Maignan at the near post and Kevin De Bruyne came close with blazing effort from range only for Maignan to keep him out too.
Then came the decisive moment. Jules Kounde giving the ball to N’Golo Kante, Kante slipping Randal Kolo Muani into the box, Kolo Muani’s shot hitting Jan Vertonghen, the ball deflecting past Koen Casteels and crossing the line. Belgium will be gutted, France ecstatic. Les Bleus are into the quarter-finals.
Relive the action from France v Belgium in Dusseldorf below:
France 0-0 Belgium
81 mins: Into the last 10 minutes now, this match has all the signs of heading to a penalty shootout. Neither team is stepping on the accelerator to go on and win this game.
It’s all slow and tepid at the minute.
France 0-0 Belgium
78 mins: Jan Vertonghen goes into the book after getting himself in a tangle with Randal Kolo Muani and bringing down the French forward.
France 0-0 Belgium
75 mins: Oh wow!
Griezmann puts a corner ball into the box which gets headed out to Jules Kounde. William Saliba jogs out of the box, takes the ball and jogs back in without being challenged by Belgium.
He rolls the ball onto his left foot and lets fly but the effort goes wide of the nearest post. Still France fail to hit the target.
France 0-0 Belgium
72 mins: There it is!
Orel Mangala has come on for Belgium and receives the ball from De Bruyne as he makes the run down the left. He slips the ball inside to Romelu Lukaku who shoots and smokes hit effort towards the near post where Mike Maignan strongly punches it away.
Belgium force a save out of the goalkeeper.
France 0-0 Belgium
69 mins: Since the break, France have had another eight attempts but none of them have troubled Koen Casteels. They need to start hitting the target or else Belgium could punish them on the counter.
France 0-0 Belgium
66 mins: Chance!
Mbappe and Rabiot link up on the left wing before the ball gets played across to Girezmann. He flicks the ball up into the air then volleys a shot at goals as it drops.
The connection is clean but it’s wayward and skims wide of the right hand post.
France 0-0 Belgium
63 mins: Belgium’s first corner of the game doesn’t bring another chance so Didier Deschamps decides to make a change for France. Marcus Thuram goes off with Randal Kolo Muani brought on.
France 0-0 Belgium
60 mins: An hour played in Dusseldorf and still no goals. This was probably to be expected after watching the group games from both sides.
Belgium overturn the ball in the middle of the pitch and De Bruyne releases Carrasco into the penalty area. Just as he’s about to shoot, Theo Hernandez gets back and pokes the ball behind with a sliding tackle.
France celebrate as though they’ve just scored.
France 0-0 Belgium
57 mins: Kounde has been a consistent thorn in Belgium’s side on that right wing for France. He comes forward and slides a pass into the box where Mbappe meets it.
He shoots first time and tries to just guide the ball onto the target but mishits his connection and sends it wide of the back post.
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