France left it late but secured a 1-0 victory over Belgium in the Nations League, with Michael Olise delivering the decisive moment just two minutes from full-time.

Zinedine Zidane's side controlled the game for long periods despite making sweeping changes to the starting XI and giving several players their international debuts. The performance underlined the depth available to France, who dominated possession and created the clearer opportunities throughout.

The hosts came close to breaking the deadlock in the first half. Désiré Doué rattled the crossbar, while Maarten Lammens produced a string of impressive saves to keep Belgium alive. The goalkeeper denied efforts from Lepaul, Bradley Barcola and Maghnes Akliouche as France repeatedly found ways through the Belgian defence.

After the interval, Da Cunha went even closer, striking the post as France continued to turn the screw. Belgium struggled to create openings of their own until the closing stages, when counter-attacks involving Dodi Lukebakio and Charles De Ketelaere finally offered the visitors a route back into the contest.

But Mike Maignan stood firm. Then, with the clock approaching 90 minutes, Olise found the breakthrough France had been chasing all evening, firing home in the 88th minute to settle a game that had threatened to slip away.

UEFA Nations League 2026-27

Belgium - France 0:1 (0:0)
Goals: Olise, 88 (0:1)

Belgium: Lammens; Mechele; Ngoy N.; Seys (De Cuyper, 68); Castagne; Lavia (Raskin, 85); De Bruyne (Vanaken, 63); Tielemans; De Ketelaere (Fernandez Pardo, 85); Moreira D. (Lukebakio, 63); Godts
Substitution: Vanaken (from 63); Lukebakio (from 63); De Cuyper (from 68); Raskin (from 85); Fernandez Pardo (from 85)
Bench: Vandevoordt; De Busser; Debast; De Winter K.; Keita M.; Lukaku R.; Openda
Yellow Cards: Moreira D. 42; De Bruyne 57; Tielemans 66

France: Maignan; Kalulu; Lacroix M.; Jacquet; Camavinga; Akliouche (Cherki, 77); Da Cunha (Koné M., 90); Doue D.; Barcola B. (Olise, 77); Diouf A.; Lepaul (Dembele O., 68)
Substitution: Dembele O. (from 68); Olise (from 77); Cherki (from 77); Koné M. (from 90)
Bench: Restes; Butez; Truffert; Upamecano; Kounde; Yoro; Rabiot