Michael Olise shrugs off Ballon d'Or chants after France's 4-1 win over Belgium

"I have nothing to say." That was Michael Olise's response after the Ballon d'Or chants followed his part in France's 4-1 Nations League win over Belgium at the Stade de France. He had come off the bench in the 60th minute for Ousmane Dembele and, within ten minutes, had ripped through the Belgian defence.

Olise finished with two goals and one assist. The other detail worth keeping in view is that this was not a one-off burst from him in the tournament, with four goals and two assists in four Nations League appearances this season and an 8.05 rating backing up the output. He also said after the match, "We played well at the end. The first half was difficult. Against low blocks, it is always difficult but after we continued and at the end it was good."

France's late surge

The match had started the other way around, with Dodi Lukebakio putting Belgium ahead. He later said, in comments translated from Portuguese to A Bola, "We are disappointed, we could have done better. It is hard to lose like this. The lead was there and then you concede four goals... It is true that we played against a great team, but four goals is too many. I am frustrated with this result."

Belgium were still leading 1-0 when Lukebakio was substituted in the 70th minute, and Roméo Lavia had supplied the assist for the opener. France have now won three of their last four Nations League matches, and Andy Diouf was among the other names in the squad shaping the late turnaround. Zinedine Zidane's side now go to Italy away before hosting Turkiye in the final group outing in the November international window.