Several players had outstanding performances in France's 1-0 knockout round victory over Belgium at Euro 2024, which was a key win that advanced Les Bleus to the quarterfinals.
The French victory was due in large part to goalkeeper Mike Maignan, who made many key stops to thwart Belgium's dangerous assaults. Particularly impressive were his reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, which he used to deny Kevin De Bruyne a goal.
In the middle of the field, Aurélien Tchouaméni was crucial, setting the pace of play and demonstrating his vision with pinpoint passes that set up his teammates for goals. Constant pressure from his long-range efforts had Belgium's defense on the ropes and called for many saves from Koen Casteels.
On defense, Theo Hernández was instrumental in keeping the game close by making a game-changing block that denied Yannick Carrasco a golden opportunity to score the game-winning goal. In order to preserve France's slim advantage, his coolness under pressure and prompt interventions were vital.
Randal Kolo Muani, who came off the bench to make a big impact up front, scored the game-winning goal with a deflected drive that evaded Belgium's defenders and goalkeeper. He was a game-changer for France thanks to his opportunistic performance and knack for capitalizing on the smallest opportunities.