France scored four times in 14 second-half minutes to beat Belgium 4-1 at the Stade de France in the Nations League, turning a first-half deficit into a rout through Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and a late double from Michael Olise.
Saint-Denis, France: For 77 minutes, Belgium had the better of the scoreboard and a plan that was working. Then Zinédine Zidane’s substitutes arrived, the Stade de France found its voice, and a match that looked headed for Belgian revenge for their defeat in Brussels became a French rout.
Lukébakio breaks clear
Belgium came to Paris having beaten Türkiye 3-0 on Friday, and having lost 1-0 to France in Brussels a week earlier. Mark van Bommel’s side were organised, and in the 35th minute it paid off. Roméo Lavia sent a long ball over the top, Dodi Lukébakio raced clear of the French defence and finished past Guillaume Restes.
France held the bulk of the possession after that and struggled to turn it into chances. Belgium defended deep, stayed compact and held the lead through the break and well into the second half.
Zidane turns to the bench
The change came from the touchline. Zidane sent on Michael Olise around the hour mark, with Doué arriving by the 72nd minute and Cherki also introduced, and the trio gave France what the starters had lacked: players who like the ball in tight spaces and run at defenders. The effect was immediate.
Four goals in 14 minutes
Doué levelled in the 77th minute with a low shot from outside the penalty area. Four minutes later it was 2-1. Olise cut the ball back and Cherki finished first time inside the box in the 81st minute, completing the swing from deficit to lead.
Belgium had no answer. Olise added a third in the 88th minute, firing across the goalkeeper into the corner, and then scored again in stoppage time to complete a double from the bench. France had gone from 1-0 down to 4-1 up in 14 minutes, and every one of their goals came from a substitute.
A first home win for Zidane
The win was Zidane’s first at home since taking charge of France, and he praised his side’s response after the break. It keeps France unbeaten in Nations League Group A1 and completes a double over Belgium inside a week. Italy beat Türkiye 3-1 on the same evening to move into second place in the group.
It is also a useful tonic for a France side still absorbing their 2-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup semi-final in July. Here, they turned a deficit into a result with the clock running down.
France 4-1 Belgium (Stade de France, Saint-Denis | 5 October 2026 | UEFA Nations League, Group A1, Matchday 4)
Goals: Lukébakio 35′ (Belgium); Doué 77′, Cherki 81′, Olise 88′, Olise 90+’ (France)
