Kolo Muani brace leads France to 2-1 victory over Belgium in thrilling encounter
In a closely contested international friendly, France edged past Belgium 2-1 thanks to a brilliant brace from striker Randal Kolo Muani. The match, held at King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on October 14, 2024, was a captivating showcase of skill, with both teams showing their mettle ahead of the upcoming UEFA European Championship.
The match pitted two European powerhouses against each other, with France coming into the game as one of the favorites to lift the Euro 2024 trophy, while Belgium, under new management, sought to reassert themselves as contenders. Despite Belgium dominating stretches of the game, Kolo Muani’s clinical finishing proved decisive in securing France’s win.
First Half: Belgium Start Strong, France Finds Momentum
Belgium began the match brightly, with their front three of Romelu Lukaku, Jeremy Doku, and Kevin De Bruyne immediately pressing the French defense. Lukaku, in particular, was a constant threat in the opening minutes, testing French goalkeeper Mike Maignan with a powerful shot that forced a diving save in the 10th minute.
However, it was France who broke the deadlock in the 25th minute, courtesy of a well-constructed counterattack. Antoine Griezmann, orchestrating play from midfield, threaded a perfectly timed through-ball to Kolo Muani. The Paris Saint-Germain striker, with one touch to control the ball, coolly slotted it past Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to give France a 1-0 lead.
The goal injected life into the French side, who began to control the pace of the game. Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé worked in tandem to create several chances, but Belgium’s defense held firm, with Courtois making key saves to prevent the deficit from growing.
Second Half: Kolo Muani Strikes Again
Belgium regrouped during halftime and came out with renewed energy. Their persistence paid off in the 55th minute when De Bruyne sent a pinpoint cross into the box, which found the head of Lukaku. The powerful striker made no mistake, rising above the French defense to direct the ball into the back of the net and equalize for Belgium.
Buoyed by the goal, Belgium pushed forward in search of a winner, with Doku’s pace causing problems for the French backline. But it was Kolo Muani who stole the spotlight once again. In the 70th minute, a long ball from defender Dayot Upamecano found Kolo Muani on the edge of the penalty area. The PSG forward showed his composure, bringing the ball under control with a deft touch before unleashing a low drive that beat Courtois at his near post. The goal put France back in the lead at 2-1.
Late Drama and Tactical Adjustments
The final 20 minutes saw Belgium throwing everything at the French defense, with De Bruyne pulling the strings from midfield and Lukaku and Doku relentlessly pressing for an equalizer. France, however, remained resilient, with their defense marshaled by Upamecano and William Saliba standing strong.
Belgium came agonizingly close to equalizing in the 85th minute when a long-range effort from De Bruyne rattled the crossbar. In the ensuing chaos, Lukaku’s close-range shot was heroically blocked by French captain Raphaël Varane.
As the clock wound down, French coach Didier Deschamps made tactical adjustments, bringing on fresh legs in the form of Eduardo Camavinga and Benjamin Pavard to shore up the midfield and defense. These substitutions helped France withstand Belgium’s final barrage of attacks, securing their 2-1 win.