Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele scored the goals as France bounced back from a home loss to Italy at the weekend by beating Belgium 2-0 in the Uefa Nations League on Monday.
𝗖'𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗘
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 9, 2024
Nos Bleus remportent leur 2ème match de la Ligue des Nations face à la Belgique, 2 buts à 0 ✅
🇫🇷2-0🇧🇪 | #FRABEL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/vDyIiaYhu6
It was not a full-strength French team that took to the field for the game in Lyon, with captain Kylian Mbappe dropping out as one of eight changes made by coach Didier Deschamps.
France lost 3-1 to Italy in Paris on Friday despite taking the lead inside 13 seconds, while Belgium came into this match fresh from beating Israel by the same scoreline.
𝙈𝘼𝙉𝙐 𝙆𝙊𝙉𝙀́ pour sa 1ère titularisation 🔥
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 9, 2024
🥇 80 ballons touchés
🥇 10 ballons récupérés
🥇 13 duels
🥇 8 gagnés
🇫🇷2-0🇧🇪 | #FRABEL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/gprU7PeiyU
This game was a repeat of the Euro 2024 last-16 tie which France won 1-0 in Duesseldorf thanks to a late own goal.
Les Bleus went ahead here just before the half-hour mark, Kolo Muani applying the finish after Dembele's mishit shot was pushed out by Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
𝑮𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒛𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒖𝒎 🙌
— Equipe de France ⭐⭐ (@equipedefrance) September 9, 2024
1️⃣3️⃣7️⃣ 𝒔𝒆́𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 et une place aux côtés de Giroud parmi les Bleus les plus capés de l’histoire 💙
Seuls 2 autres légendes, L.Thuram et Lloris ont porté plus de fois le maillot Bleu 🌟#FRABEL | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/WEqm6PDWBy
A Belgian side captained by Kevin De Bruyne could not find an equaliser and France scored again on 57 minutes thanks to a fine individual effort by Dembele.
The Paris Saint-Germain winger skipped inside from the right wing before blasting a shot into the net on his left foot.
Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Michael Olise were among the players who came off the bench for France in the second half, as they saw out a victory which will boost confidence after the disappointing defeat by Italy.
The Italians are on top of Group A2 with six points out of six after beating Israel 2-1 on Monday.
France and Belgium have three points apiece, while Israel are bottom without a point.
The next matches are in October, including Italy playing Belgium in Rome, and Israel meeting France on neutral territory in Budapest.