Heavyweight meeting between France and Belgium in a star-studded round of 16 final. Judged by none other than Swedish head judge Glenn Nyberg together with assistants Mahbod Beigi and Andreas Söderkvist.
Anyone expecting fireworks probably had to hold back. This was a slow-paced game which France eventually won by a goal to nil after Randal Kolo Muani’s shot was headed in by veteran Jan Vertonghen.
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– We had a couple of opportunities when we could have scored, but then to get that goal against us, there’s not much to say, it’s unlucky, says Belgium’s captain and superstar Kevin de Bruyne after the match.
France had most of the ball and frantically tried to find their way through a low-lying Belgian defence, but without any high-quality scoring chances. A Belgian free-kick from a harmless position was strangely saved by Mike Maignan’s footwork. Marcus Thuram nodded narrowly wide. Then it stopped there and the half-time whistle blew.
The match turned up a bit in the second half and France started to struggle to more and more chances, but usually without the last quality for a leading goal. Tchoumanei forced Koen Casteels into a good save, Thuram headed wide, Mbappé tried his luck but the clean sheet remained intact. In between, Lukaku and Kevin de Bruyne tried their luck for Belgium, but the clean sheet, again intact.
Then it came. Randal Kolo Muani turned up, unleashed a bouncing shot that via Jan Vertonghen’s leg put Casteels in the Belgian goal. 1-0, French euphoria and advancement to the quarter-finals.
– We are very disappointed. When both teams play like this, an individual performance or a control is needed to decide the match, which is annoying, says Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
Once there, the winner of tonight’s match between Portugal and Slovenia awaits.