France left it late to see off Belgium and reach the quarter-finals of the 2024 Euro championship after a hard-fought 1-0 win on Monday.
With five minutes left on the clock in the second half, substitute, Randal Kolo Muani’s strike, deflected off defender Jan Vertonghen and beat goalkeeper Koen Casteels to seal victory, with coach Didier Deschamps asking his players to do more subsequently.
He said: “It’s beautiful, we played a big game, it was tight but we enjoyed possession and we had more opportunities. We have to savour it, it’s quite an achievement. We’re in the quarter-finals, they’re going home.
“We made a lot of progress and our opponents were obviously cautious, even if they’re an attacking team on paper. We did everything we could to create chances, and we created more than them, but we played the waiting game and didn’t fall into their trap. I liked that, but obviously you can’t win through possession alone.
“I’d like us to create more chances but we’re into the quarter-finals and that’s what counts. Let’s not play down that moment.”
A massive moment for France 😤#EURO2024 | #FRABEL pic.twitter.com/5WAmx8sDN5
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 1, 2024
France have now won three successive games against Belgium and will meet Portugal in the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday.
