Michael Olise turned a balanced Nations League contest with one late burst, scoring the only goal as France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels and preserved Zinédine Zidane's perfect start as national coach.
The Bayern Munich attacker began on the bench at the King Baudouin Stadium, entered for Bradley Barcola with roughly a quarter of an hour remaining and settled the match in the 88th minute. He carried the ball from inside his own half, resisted Maxim De Cuyper's challenge, shifted away from the recovering defenders and finished calmly beyond Senne Lammens.
It was Olise's eighth senior international goal and France's second successive 1-0 victory under Zidane. Six points from the opening two fixtures leave Les Bleus top of Nations League Group A1, three points clear of Belgium and Italy.
A substitute changes the shape of the night
France had already shown enough to threaten without taking control of the match. Désiré Doué struck the crossbar in the first half, while Lucas Da Cunha hit the base of a post after the interval. Belgium remained dangerous in transition and Dodi Lukébakio came closest for the hosts.
The decisive moment did not arrive through sustained pressure around the Belgian penalty area. It came when the home side had committed players forward and France recovered possession. Rayan Cherki moved the ball quickly to Olise, who then turned open grass into a direct route to goal.
That distinction matters when assessing the result. France created the two clearest efforts before the goal, yet the winning action was less about territory than the quality of an individual decision. Olise protected the ball, maintained his balance and waited for the defensive line to retreat before opening an angle for his left foot.
The sequence also justified Zidane's use of his bench. Olise had started the 1-0 win in Türkiye three days earlier and supplied the pass for Kylian Mbappé's winner. In Brussels, Zidane made nine changes to his starting side and kept several senior attacking options for the second half. Olise's introduction gave France a fresh carrier precisely when tired defenders had more space to cover.
Zidane rotates without losing the result
Rotation was the central question before kick-off. France were without the injured Mbappé and Zidane changed almost his entire team after the opening win in İzmit. Estéban Lepaul led the attack on his first senior start, with Doué, Barcola and Maghnes Akliouche forming a younger supporting group.
The reshuffle did not produce a fluent performance throughout. Belgium's midfield, featuring Kevin De Bruyne, Youri Tielemans and Roméo Lavia, could slow the contest and deny France the continuous rhythm that their pace might have created. The hosts also defended deep enough to reduce space behind their centre-backs for long periods.
France still protected Mike Maignan well and found enough openings to avoid relying entirely on the goal. Doué's strike against the bar followed one of their sharper early combinations. Pierre Kalulu was also denied near the line, while Da Cunha's second-half shot hit the woodwork.
The broader value of the win is therefore not that France dominated Belgium. UEFA described a contest that could have gone either way. It is that Zidane changed personnel, managed the absence of his captain and still found a route to three points. Two clean sheets and two narrow away victories give him an immediate platform before home matches against Italy and Belgium.
Olise adds another layer to France's attack
Olise's international record is beginning to match the authority of his club performances. The French Football Federation lists eight goals in 27 senior appearances, with the Brussels winner coming from only 17 minutes on the pitch.
His importance is not limited to scoring. Against Türkiye, his precise pass created Mbappé's goal. Against Belgium, he received in a far deeper position and carried the attack himself. Those are different solutions to different defensive problems: one uses timing and vision near the penalty area, while the other depends on control at speed over a much greater distance.
That versatility should matter as Zidane works through a crowded run of Nations League matches. France can use Olise from the start as a right-sided creator, move him into central pockets or hold him back as an aggressive second-half option. Opponents cannot simply prepare for one route of entry.
For readers following the Football section, the result is also a reminder that a 1-0 scoreline can hide several distinct match stories. France hit the woodwork twice but required one exceptional transition to win. Belgium competed evenly for long spells but were punished when their structure opened late.
What the result means for Group A1
France lead the section with six points after two matches. Belgium and Italy have three each, while Türkiye remain without a point. The next round brings France against Italy in Saint-Denis, where Zidane's side can strengthen its position before meeting Belgium again three days later.
The table is still at an early stage, so the six-point start should not be treated as qualification secured. It does, however, create useful room for further rotation and gives France control over the immediate direction of the group.
Belgium leave the match with evidence that they can compete against the section leaders, but also with a familiar problem. Mark van Bommel's side were close to a valuable point after opening their campaign with victory in Italy. One loss of shape in the final minutes removed it.
Anyone translating the performance into a betting view should separate the result from the process. A late goal can move prices and public opinion more sharply than the preceding 87 minutes justify. Compare the chance pattern, tactical match-up and likely team changes rather than treating a two-game sequence as a complete measure of either side. BetOwl's guides to expected goals and football match odds explain why the score and the underlying performance are related but not identical.
France have the points, the clean sheets and a match-winner in form. The strongest conclusion is narrower than any sweeping claim about the tournament: Zidane has rotated boldly, Olise has influenced both victories in different ways, and Group A1 already runs through the decisions France make next.
More current reports are available in News. Betting should remain a form of entertainment for adults aged 18 and over. Set limits, avoid chasing losses and never stake money needed for essential spending.