France followed Spain into the Nations League final. The Equipe Tricolore won the semi-final against Belgium 3:2 late on after a spectacular comeback.
Both national coaches had sent their first squad into the race, so the tempo was correspondingly high in the opening phase – and the first chance of the game correspondingly spectacular. After an unfortunate deflection by Koundé, De Bruyne finished from close range and hammered home to the short corner, Lloris making a sensational save to prevent Belgium from taking the early lead (4th).
Belgian double strike before the break
The game continued to be up and down, with both teams taking turns to fire towards the opposition goal. From the middle of the second period, however, the tempo gradually decreased and the tactical component came to the fore. The French, who fielded the pair of brothers Theo and Lucas Hernandez for the first time, showed some technically attractive combinations, with the offensive trio Griezmann/Mbappé/Benzema switching positions frequently.
More determined, however, was Belgium, who had a little more ball security and pulled ahead at times – and took the lead in precisely this way: De Bruyne shifted to the right to Carrasco, who moved into the middle and caught Lloris completely on the wrong foot with a slightly deflected shot into the short corner (37th). France were now noticeably on the ropes and conceded the second goal: After another De Bruyne pass, Lukaku got past Lucas Hernandez far too easily and then hammered the ball over Lloris from an acute angle and under the crossbar (41). Hazard could even have added a third goal before the break, but this time Lloris was on hand (45th).
France transformed – double strike to equalise
The half-time break did France good, the world champions came out of the dressing room as if transformed – and against Belgians who were acting too passively, they scored a double strike: After Griezmann had already missed a huge chance (58th minute), Benzema showed all his class. ), Benzema showed all his class and, surrounded by four Belgians, scored from a turn to tie the game (62nd), only a little later the German referee Daniel Siebert awarded a penalty for a foul by Tielemans on Griezmann after VAR intervention – Mbappé converted to make it 2:2 (69th).
Spectacular final phase: Theo Hernandez sets the final point
The final phase was really spectacular: Both teams played to win, wanted to force a decision before extra time. Lloris against De Bruyne (73rd) and Courtois against the substitute Tchouameni (77th) showed outstanding saves, Mbappé shot just past on the left (86th), a Lukaku goal was disallowed by the VAR for offside (87th), Pogba flicked a free kick onto the crossbar (90th).
But the crowning glory of the wild ups and downs was still to come: With the end of normal time, Pavard pushed forward on the right, Alderweireld deflected his cross to the feet of Theo Hernandez – and the Milan player hammered the ball into the far corner from around 15 metres (90th). His first international goal was tantamount to the final point – and a place in the final for the French.
