France bounced back from their opening loss in the UEFA Nations League with a convincing 2-0 victory over Belgium at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon on September 9, 2024. The French team, under pressure after their 3-1 defeat to Italy, responded with a tactical shake-up by coach Didier Deschamps, who made eight changes to the starting lineup, including the notable decision to bench star player Kylian Mbappé.Randal Kolo Muani opened the scoring for France in the 29th minute, capitalizing on a deflection from a Belgian defender. Ousmane Dembélé, one of the players brought into the starting eleven, sealed the victory with a spectacular solo effort in the 57th minute. Dembélé’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he finished the match with three completed dribbles and five chances created.In a parallel fixture, Italy continued their strong start to the tournament with a 2-1 win over Israel in Budapest. Davide Frattesi scored for Italy in the 38th minute, assisted by Federico Dimarco, and Moise Kean added a second in the 62nd minute. Israel managed a late consolation goal through Abu Fani, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Italy from securing all three points.These results have reshaped the standings in Group 2 of League A. Italy now leads the group with six points from two matches, while France and Belgium are tied for second place with three points each. Israel sits at the bottom of the group with zero points.The French victory has eased the pressure on the team and coach Deschamps, who said, ‘It was a great day. The team reacted positively and showed a good level of play’. France will next face Israel away on October 10, while Belgium will take on Italy in their next fixture.
Key points
- France defeated Belgium 2-0 in the UEFA Nations League, bouncing back from their opening loss.
- Didier Deschamps made significant changes to the French lineup, including benching Kylian Mbappé.
- Italy maintained their perfect start with a 2-1 win over Israel, leading Group 2 with six points.
- The results have reshaped the group standings, with France and Belgium tied for second place.
Contradictions👾There is a discrepancy in the reported scorer of France’s first goal.
Most sources attribute it to Randal Kolo Muani, but one source incorrectly states that Kylian Mbappé scored the first goal.
