France survived a nervy conclusion after being reduced to ten men as they held on for a 2-1 win over Belgium in the Nations League. Aurelien Tchouameni was shown a second yellow card for bringing down Youri Tielemans with 15 minutes remaining, giving Belgium fresh hope of turning the match around on home soil.
But Les Blues held on, Randal Kolo Muani’s brace proving decisive as Didier Deschamps’ side took a major step towards qualifying for the quarter-finals. Belgium, who would have moved above France and into second in A2 with victory, will feel hugely frustrated that they came away from the clash in Brussels empty-handed.
Having made a superb start to the match, Youri Tielemans blazed a first-half penalty over the bar, and Kolo Muani then made that miss even more painful, converting a spot-kick of his own after Wout Faes had handled in the box. Lois Openda equalised late in the first-half, that goal initially ruled out for offside before being awarded following a lengthy VAR check. Kolo Muani restored the lead just after the hour mark, his header squirming under Koen Casteels, and it proved to be the winner, with Belgium unable to mount a late charge even with the extra man.
