In a tense Round of 16 clash at Euro 2024, France secured their place in the quarterfinals with a narrow 1-0 victory over Belgium, courtesy of an unexpected own goal. The match, featuring two top-ranked teams, did not deliver the high-octane performance fans anticipated.
Kylian Mbappe, the French star, faced another challenging game, struggling to find the back of the net despite five attempts. Wearing a mask to protect his broken nose from an earlier match, Mbappe was effectively contained by Belgium's strategic defense, led by the formidable Kevin De Bruyne.
Didier Deschamps remained optimistic despite France's underwhelming display. \"It's beautiful,\" he remarked, highlighting the significance of reaching the quarterfinals. The decisive moment came in the 85th minute when Randal Kolo Muani, coming off the bench, delivered a shot that deflected off Belgian defender Jan Vertonghen and into the net, sealing the win for France.
Kolo Muani expressed his relief and pride in the outcome, saying, \"I was lucky enough to get my shot on target. It was blocked but it went in. We're very, very happy and very, very proud.\" UEFA officially recorded the goal as an own goal, marking the second of the tournament for France, alongside a penalty by Mbappe.
Looking ahead, France is set to face Portugal in the quarterfinals on Friday. Deschamps remains confident in his team's ability to score more goals, despite the reliance on an own goal to advance.
Reference(s):
France into Euro 2024 quarterfinals after beating Belgium by own goal
cgtn.com
