No Kylian Mbappé, no problem? Perhaps it is not quite that simple for France, who started this match as a confused rabble but straightened out sufficiently to maintain their hold over a lively Belgium. The controversy over his non-appearance will rumble on, as will the wider concerns around player workload that cast a shadow over this Nations League tie, and more clinical opposition might have darkened the mood further.
In the event two goals from Randal Kolo Muani, one a penalty, sandwiched a reply from Loïs Openda and ensured one more point will take France to the quarter-finals. Belgium’s run of 43 years without a competitive win over their neighbours has been extended but they contributed positively to a night that sparked plenty of thought about this fixture’s place in the world.
