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Zidane’s France rallies past Belgium 4-1 at home

By Drooid · Oct 6, 2026, 2:20 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

France Overturns Deficit

France overturned a 1-0 deficit to defeat Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France.
Zinedine Zidane earned his first home victory as France coach in the match.
Substitutes Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise scored four goals in the final 15 minutes.
France rose to 10 points, three ahead of Italy and four clear of Belgium.

Summary

Zidane Reshuffles Defence

Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans miss the match after serving one-match bans for yellow cards.
Mark van Bommel criticised Belgium’s sloppy possession, saying it gave France too many chances.
Zinedine Zidane must reshuffle defence after Dayot Upamecano’s red card, likely pairing Jérémy Jacquet with Maxence Lacroix.
France leads the head-to-head series with 30 wins, Belgium 30, and 19 draws after 79 matches.

History

Historical Context

In 1998, France captured the FIFA World Cup at the Stade de France, defeating Brazil 3-0 and cementing its modern football ascendancy. The tournament featured 32 nations, generated $2 billion in revenue, and highlighted coach Aimé Jacquet’s tactical discipline, which reshaped French strategy. Today's 4-1 comeback over Belgium echoes that legacy, as Zinedine Zidane, now manager, orchestrates a rapid offensive surge reminiscent of 1998’s dominance. The result reinforces France’s reputation for decisive turnarounds, suggesting future tournaments may see similar tactical flexibility and heightened confidence against European rivals.

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France Overturns Deficit

France overturned a 1-0 deficit to defeat Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France.
Zinedine Zidane earned his first home victory as France coach in the match.
Substitutes Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise scored four goals in the final 15 minutes.
France rose to 10 points, three ahead of Italy and four clear of Belgium.

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