France left Brussels with 6 points from 2 Nations League matches after Michael Olise came off the bench to score in the 88th minute of a 1-0 win over Belgium. The result kept Zinédine Zidane perfect at the start of his reign, but the more interesting detail was how France got there. He made nine changes, gave three players their first appearance, and still found a way through late.

In the end, Belgium vs France was settled by the one player in this squad who is carrying real attacking momentum into the competition. Olise now has 1 goal and 1 assist in 2 Nations League appearances.

France's control survived the rotation

A 1-0 scoreline can suggest a tight, even game. France were the side asking most of the questions for long periods.

Zidane changed nine starters, which usually brings a drop in rhythm, but France still created the clearer early openings. Désiré Doué hit the crossbar in the 12th minute, and Lucas Da Cunha later struck the left post in the 53rd. Those chances mattered because they showed France were getting into useful areas even with a heavily altered side.

The team sheet also carried three first France appearances, Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha and Jérémy Jacquet. That made the win a little more convincing than the bare score suggests. International sides rarely look polished with that much change, and France still spent enough of the night on the front foot to keep Belgium waiting.

Foot Mercato summed up the finish neatly when it reported, in comments translated from French: "A final surge from Olise right at the end of the match allowed Les Bleus to win at the death (0-1, 88th minute)."

That late goal did more than rescue a stale draw. It preserved France's perfect opening under Zidane, with 2 wins from his first 2 Nations League games, and it kept them top of Group A1 on 6 points.

Olise's cameo changed the match

Olise was not in the starting line-up, which makes the impact stronger rather than smaller. France had enough territory and enough chances to think a breakthrough would come, but they still needed someone to turn pressure into a goal.

He did it in 13 minutes.

SPORT1 described it this way, in comments translated from German: "The French national team has secured its second win in its second match thanks to Bayern star Michael Olise in the still young Zinédine Zidane era."

The club reference is relevant here too. Bayern München's attacker arrived with form, and France are already leaning on it. Across two Nations League appearances he has produced 1 goal and 1 assist, which is direct output rather than vague promise.

There is another angle to the winner. Olise had not scored from his last 22 shots before this match, so the finish in Brussels arrived at a useful time for him personally. It also fits the broader start he is making with France in this competition. Even used from the bench, he is influencing games.

His 7.7 Nations League rating is the only rating worth mentioning here, because it backs up what the match decided in practice. France do not need him to dominate every phase to swing the result.

Group A1 after Brussels

The table is straightforward after this result. France are top of Group A1 with 6 points from 2 matches.

That gives the win extra weight beyond one late goal. A rotated side went away to Belgium, carried first caps in the squad, missed a couple of strong chances and still left with the full return. France have also not lost in Belgium in 45 years, which adds a bit of historical edge to a result that was mostly about control and patience.

Belgium made France work for it, and a 0-1 game always leaves room for frustration if the finish never comes. France avoided that because Olise gave them exactly what the night lacked before his introduction, a decisive touch in the box.

Zidane will take the clean result and the points. France leave Brussels first in Group A1 on 6 points after two matches, with Olise deciding it in the 88th minute.

FAQ

Why did Michael Olise only need a short cameo to change France vs Belgium?

Olise came on as a substitute and scored in the 88th minute after playing 13 minutes. France had controlled long spells but had not turned that into a goal, despite chances including a crossbar from Désiré Doué and a post from Lucas Da Cunha.

How good is France's start under Zinédine Zidane in the Nations League?

France have won both of Zidane's first two Nations League matches. The 1-0 win over Belgium moved them onto 6 points and left them top of Group A1.

Did France rotate heavily against Belgium and still win?

Yes. Zidane made nine changes to the starting line-up in Brussels, and France still won 1-0. The rotation gave first France appearances to Andy Diouf, Lucas Da Cunha and Jérémy Jacquet before Olise settled the game late.

Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 6 outlets. How we work →