In a strategic move, France secured a 2-0 victory against Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday by resting their star forward, Kylian Mbappé.
Despite Mbappé starting on the bench, France showcased their depth and resilience. Two of Mbappé's former Paris Saint-Germain teammates, Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele, delivered powerful performances by scoring goals just before and after halftime, respectively, leading the team to a comfortable win in Lyon.
This latest triumph allows France to regain momentum in the top-tier Nations League group, especially after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Italy in Paris on Friday. Italy currently leads the four-team group, having also defeated Israel 2-1 with goals from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean on Monday.
Coach Didier Deschamps opted to rest Mbappé in an effort to manage the player's workload and maintain team performance, particularly after France's recent exit in the European Championship semifinals against eventual champions Spain. Mbappé, who recently joined Real Madrid, had limited preseason preparation following Euro 2024 and played a full game against Italy before being eased into the match against Belgium.
Deschamps made a tactical substitution in the 67th minute, bringing on the team captain to replace Kolo Muani, further demonstrating his approach to balance rest and competitiveness within the squad.
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France rest Mbappe to start, beat Belgium 2-0 in UEFA Nations League
cgtn.com