Euro 2024: France advance into quarter-final despite failing to score from open play
i

France advance into quarter-final || Imago

Euro 2024: France advance into quarter-final despite failing to score from open play

Stephen Oladehinde 19:04 - 01.07.2024

France sealed a quarter-final spot after defeating Belgium in the round of 16 and could face the winner between Portugal and Slovenia

The French team have failed to score from open play since the start of the tournament but still found a way to get the job done.

A deflected Randal Kolo Muani’s shot late in the game sealed a 1-0 victory for France over the Red Devils 

As it happened 

Antoine Griezmann returned to the first 11 for France after he was named on the bench in their final group game against Poland.

Captain Kylian Mbappe started with his protective mask, while Marcus Thuram joined the forward in attack.

Belgium made two changes as Lois Openda and Yannick Carrasco came in as Arsenal's Leandro Trossard dropped to the bench.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.ng/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

The game started with both teams going back and forth in attack and creating a lot of chances but they failed to take those chances.

The referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half which did not produce a goal from both teams.

The second half started with France dominating most of the possession but failing to penetrate the Belgium defence.

Kolo Muani scores France winning goal || Imago
Kolo Muani scores France winning goal || Imago

They were only able to create half-chances which they could not convert. Both teams at 75 minutes had only one shot on target each.

Belgium could not withstand the pressure from France and conceded in the 84th minute from a deflected shot.

France won the ball back deep in their half and worked the ball into the penalty area before passing to Randal Kolo Muani whose shot at goal took a deflection off Jan Vertonghen's knee beating the goalkeeper into the net.

Belgium pushed for an equaliser late in the game but France were able to hold on to the lead until the final whistle was blown.

Tags: