France Player Ratings vs Belgium: Olise and Doue Spark Comeback

France Player Ratings vs Belgium: A Dramatic Turnaround

At the Stade de France, France pulled off an incredible comeback to beat Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League. Trailing for most of the match after Dodi Lukebakio's first-half goal, France exploded with four goals in the last 14 minutes, overwhelming the visitors.

For 77 minutes, it seemed Belgium under Mark van Bommel would hold on to their lead thanks to a compact defense. France controlled possession at 61% and produced an expected goals (xG) of 2.38 but couldn’t find a breakthrough. The final phase saw a shift as France’s stamina and fresh players wore down Belgium’s defense.

The young substitutes sparked the change. From the 77th minute onward, France went from trailing 0-1 to cruising at 4-1. They ended the match with 24 shots, 9 on target, compared to just 5 efforts from Belgium.

Goalkeeper & Defence

Guillaume Restes - 6/10: Had little to do early on, was not at fault for the Belgian goal, made one save, and passed decently while France built from the back.
Leny Yoro - 7/10: Calm debut, used his pace well to contain Romelu Lukaku and dominated aerial duels, helping keep Belgium to only two shots on target.
Maxence Lacroix - 6/10: Solid but unspectacular, helped maintain a high defensive line, though caught out momentarily for Belgium’s goal.
Jules Kounde - 7/10: Played right-back, frequently involved going forward despite some poor crosses, disciplined in defense limiting Dodi Moreira’s impact.
Andy Diouf - 6/10: Balanced left-back showing good defensive work, less active in attack but stopped any Belgian counters.

Midfield

Eduardo Camavinga - 7/10: Controlled the midfield rhythm, key in recycling possession and breaking lines, replaced late by Rabiot.
Manu Kone - 6/10: Added grit but struggled to unlock Belgium’s defense, substituted after 60 minutes for more creativity.
Maghnes Akliouche - 6/10: Quiet performance, found little space between the lines, replaced in the tactical reshuffle that led to the comeback.

Attack

Ousmane Dembele - 6/10: Captain who frustrated fans with unsuccessful dribbles and no end product, replaced after 60 minutes.
Bradley Barcola - 6/10: Showed bursts of speed but was often doubled up on, replaced by Desire Doue in the 72nd minute.
Esteban Lepaul - 6/10: Led the line but isolated for long periods, lacked service to seriously challenge Belgium’s goalkeeper.

Substitutes & Manager

Desire Doue - 9/10: Entering in the 72nd minute, he changed the course of the match by scoring the equalizer and assisting two goals, turning the tide completely.
Michael Olise - 9/10: Came on at 60 minutes, assisted the second goal and scored twice late to seal the win with impressive vision and finishing.
Rayan Cherki - 8/10: Scored the go-ahead goal in the 81st minute, his skill in tight spaces gave France the attacking edge they had missed.
Lucas Da Cunha - 7/10: Replaced Kone, helped create the first goal by assisting Doue, brought energy that shifted momentum.
Adrien Rabiot - N/A: Came on late to help close out the victory.
Zinedine Zidane - 9/10: His substitutions were perfectly timed and executed, transforming a struggling team into a dominant force and securing a memorable win.