France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in a tense Euro 2024 clash, booking their spot in the quarter-finals. The match, anticipated as a battle of titans, saw both teams cautious in the early stages.
Kevin De Bruyne's deflected free-kick tested French goalkeeper Mike Maignan, waking up the defensive resilience of Les Bleus.
As the game progressed, France gained momentum, orchestrated by Aurélien Tchouaméni's midfield prowess. A highlight of the first half was Tchouaméni's pinpoint pass to Jules Koundé, whose cross narrowly missed finding Marcus Thuram's head. The second half saw increased intensity, with France pushing forward and testing Belgian keeper Koen Casteels through Tchouaméni's long-range effort.
Belgium responded with sporadic counterattacks, the closest coming when Theo Hernández made a vital block to deny Yannick Carrasco. Despite Belgium's resilience, it was France who broke the deadlock. Substitute Randal Kolo Muani's shot deflected off Jan Vertonghen, eluding Casteels and sealing victory for Les Bleus.
The win marked France's fifth successive triumph over Belgium in major tournaments, highlighting their pedigree on the international stage. As the final whistle blew, Jules Koundé was named Man of the Match for his commanding presence in defense and his instrumental role in France's build-up play.