France Advances to Euro 2024 Quarter-Finals with Late Win Over Belgium

In a highly anticipated showdown at Euro 2024, France secured their spot in the quarter-finals with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Belgium. A late deflected goal from Randal Kolo Muani proved decisive, as Les Bleus edged out the Red Devils in a tense encounter between two of the world's top-ranked teams.

The match, featuring star forwards Kylian Mbappé and Romelu Lukaku, began slowly with both sides cautious in their approach. It wasn’t until the 22nd minute that Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected free-kick forced French goalkeeper Mike Maignan into action, marking the first significant chance of the game.

As the first half progressed, France began to find their footing. Aurélien Tchouaméni's 60-yard pass to Jules Koundé set up Marcus Thuram for a header that narrowly missed the target. Despite their growing influence, France managed just one shot on target in the opening 45 minutes.

The second half saw increased urgency from both sides. Tchouaméni again tested Casteels with a long-range effort early on, while Belgium’s best opportunity came from Yannick Carrasco, whose shot was heroically blocked by Theo Hernández. Kevin De Bruyne also came close, but Maignan's save kept the game level.

The breakthrough came in the 88th minute when Randal Kolo Muani's shot deflected off Jan Vertonghen, wrong-footing Casteels and sealing France's victory. This win marks France’s fifth consecutive head-to-head triumph over Belgium in major tournaments, sending them to the quarter-finals where they will face either Portugal or Slovenia.

Belgium’s 'Golden Generation' once again fell short on the big stage, adding to their string of near-misses in recent tournaments. For France, the victory underscores their resilience and ability to perform under pressure, reinforcing their status as one of the favorites to win Euro 2024.