France Beat Belgium 4-1 after Stunning Late Comeback in Nations League

France produced a remarkable late comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League at the Stade de France on Monday. Belgium appeared on course for a famous away win after taking the lead in the first half, but France exploded into life late in the game, scoring four times in just 14 minutes.

The victory gave Zinedine Zidane his first home win as France manager and kept Les Bleus at the top of Group A1. The biggest difference-maker was substitute Michael Olise, who scored twice and assisted Rayan Cherki’s goal after coming off the bench.

Belgium Strike First Through Lukebakio

France controlled much of the early possession but struggled to turn that dominance into clear chances. Belgium, meanwhile, remained dangerous on the counter and punished France in the 35th minute.

Dodi Lukebakio raced onto a superb long-range pass from Romeo Lavia before beating France goalkeeper Guillaume Restes to give Belgium a 1-0 lead. The goal forced France to chase the game, but Belgium went into half-time still in front.

Zidane Turns to His Bench

With France trailing, Zidane turned to his substitutes and introduced Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise. The changes completely transformed the match.

France began attacking with greater speed and purpose, while Olise immediately provided creativity from the right. Belgium had defended effectively for more than an hour, but suddenly found themselves under relentless pressure.

Désiré Doué Starts the Comeback

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 77th minute. Doué collected the ball outside the penalty area and produced a low left-footed strike that beat Belgium goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt.

The equaliser changed everything. France sensed that Belgium were vulnerable, and the hosts needed only four more minutes to complete the turnaround.

Rayan Cherki Puts France Ahead

Olise then made his biggest impact of the night. After receiving the ball in a dangerous position, the Bayern Munich forward delivered a precise cross into the area, allowing Rayan Cherki to finish and put France ahead in the 81st minute.

Belgium had gone from leading 1-0 to trailing 2-1 in only six minutes. France were now completely in control, with their substitutes providing the energy and creativity that had been missing earlier in the match.

Michael Olise Seals a Stunning 4-1 Win

Olise saved his best moments for the closing stages. He scored France’s third goal in the 88th minute after combining with Doué, before adding another in stoppage time to complete a memorable Michael Olise brace.

That meant France had scored four goals in just 14 minutes, turning a 1-0 deficit into a commanding 4-1 victory. Olise was directly involved in three of those four goals, underlining just how dramatically he changed the contest after entering from the bench.

France Stay Top of Group A1

The France vs Belgium Nations League 2026 result strengthened France's position at the top of Group A1. France moved to 10 points from four matches, while Italy climbed to second with seven points after beating Türkiye 3-1. Belgium remained third on six points, with Türkiye still without a point.

France's unbeaten start under Zidane therefore continues, with the former France captain overseeing three wins and one draw in the opening four group matches. The comeback against Belgium also demonstrated the depth available to him, with three substitutes playing decisive roles.

Olise Emerges as France's Late Hero

For Michael Olise, the night added another outstanding chapter to his growing international reputation. His two goals took him to four in the 2026/27 Nations League, putting him among the competition's leading scorers. UEFA listed Olise alongside Viktor Gyökeres, Harry Kane, Troy Parrott, Leo Walta and Lamine Yamal at the top of the scoring chart after Matchday 4.

His performance also highlighted the attacking options available to Zidane. With players such as Olise, Doué and Cherki capable of changing matches from the bench, France showed they can maintain intensity even when their starting attack is not producing.

Zidane Gets the Perfect Home Response

The France football team had already shown promise under Zidane, but this comeback gave the new manager a particularly memorable first home victory. France had drawn 1-1 with Italy in Zidane's previous home game before responding with an emphatic result against Belgium.

The biggest takeaway was not simply the four goals but the way France recovered from adversity. Belgium defended successfully for more than 75 minutes, yet France's substitutions changed the tempo of the game completely.

France's Nations League Momentum Builds

The France 4-1 Belgium result leaves Les Bleus in a strong position in Group A1 as they move towards the final stages of the league phase. Their next major test will come against Italy in November before they finish the group stage against Türkiye.

For Belgium, the defeat was a painful reminder of how quickly a match can change at international level. Mark van Bommel's side had protected their lead for most of the evening but were overwhelmed once France found their rhythm.

France may have spent most of the night searching for an opening, but when it finally arrived, the response was spectacular. Four goals in 14 minutes, a starring cameo from Olise and a first home victory for Zidane turned a difficult evening into one of France's most dramatic Nations League wins.