The giant meeting between France and Belgium was not a goal-rich story.
In the end, it was an own goal that decided – and sent France through to the quarter-finals of the football European Championship.
It was two football giants, but also two teams that have not impressed very much so far, against each other in the round of 16 in the football European Championship.
World number two France against world number three Belgium offered the audience in Düsseldorf a rather smooth first half, where “Les bleus” were slightly better but where the team nevertheless had to go to the half-time break in a 0-0 situation.
The second half continued in much the same way, with the occasional poisonous French situation but where the aim did not seem to be properly set.
“Many good locations”
We had many good chances, but also many shots that we didn’t hit on target, says French national team captain Didier Deschamps in TV4.
Belgium were not without chances either, including Kevin de Bruyne’s hard shot which forced French goalkeeper Mike Maignan to intervene, but the feeling was still that it was France who were closing in on a lead.
However, it took until the 85th match minute before the match’s first, and only, goal came.
It was when 25-year-old substitute Randal Kolo Muani fired a shot that Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen unluckily headed the ball into his own goal, and 1-0 to France was a fact.
Quarter finals on Friday
We pressed a lot during the match but the shots were not on target. I was lucky that my shot was blocked and headed in. We are very happy and proud, says Kolo Muani after the victory.
There were no more goals, and France thus knocked out Belgium and advances to the quarter-finals on Friday. There, they face the winner between Portugal and Slovenia.