Euro 2024: France Edges Belgium 1-0 to Reach Quarter-Finals

In a tense tie in Duesseldorf, Jan Vertonghen's late own goal sent France into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Monday 1-0.

France had controlled the last-16 match, but their careless finishing looked ready to demand extra time until they eventually found a way through with five minutes left.

Replacement Randal Kolo Muani gathered the ball within the Belgian penalty area and struck a comprehensive effort that passed goalkeeper Koen Casteels after a deflection from the unlucky Vertonghen.

Remaining on route to becoming European champions for the third time, the lucky break sends the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie in Hamburg on Friday.

France has not yet scored from open play in four games in the tournament; captain Kylian Mbappe scored once from a penalty against Poland, while their other two goals came from opposition defenders.

Importantly, though, they are rock-strong in defense; they have only given one goal from a penalty thus far.

Their backline was exceptional against Romelu Lukaku and his fellow attackers; Belgium bowed out following what would be a dismal campaign for them.

Both of these sides, in Belgium's case for their 1-0 loss against France in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, a result that still hurts six years on, were seeking retribution.

Meanwhile, France had a point to prove at the Euros following three years of falling out on penalties to Switzerland, a shockingly dismal outcome between journeys to successive World Cup finals.

Before they arrived in Germany, the French were generally seen as the favorites to win this event, but they performed under average during the group stage.

Mbappe's fractured nose suffered in their opening game against Austria did not help, and Antoine Griezmann's uncertain form has also been problematic.

The Forwards Failed to Perform Again

Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco responded remarkably to his side's disappointing group-stage performance.

While skipper Kevin De Bruyne played a more subdued role, Yannick Carrasco and Lois Openda were assigned to start providing as much attacking danger as feasible in support of Lukaku.

For at least the neutrals, the expectation was that so much attacking ability would result in an open game full of goals; yet, the reality was somewhat different.

Belgium did not test opponent goalkeeper Mike Maignan in the first half; they were content to let France back off.

With Griezmann appearing lost on the right wing, France got oodles of the ball but often looked sloppy, inaccurate, and relatively flat.

Thuram headed narrowly wide from Jules Kounde's enticing cross just after the half-hour mark, and Aurelien Tchouameni twice fired off-target throughout the first half.

As France started the second half, Real Madrid midfielder Tchouameni tested Casteels with a deflected long-range shot.

Mbappe sped inside and slammed a shot just over, suggesting a goal might be forthcoming.

An hour in Belgium, William Saliba lost possession on midway, and De Bruyne released Carrasco, who was about to hit the trigger when Theo Hernandez arrived to make a great save block. Belgium almost had the breakthrough.

Maignan was called into action once more to deny De Bruyne and had to make a save 20 minutes from the end of regular time to save a shot from Lukaku.

One goal would determine the battle, and France realized this in the 85th minute as N'Golo Kante supplied Kolo Muani, and his shot went off Vertonghen to pass Les Bleus through.

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