Underwhelming France just do enough to beat Belgium and reach Euro quarter finals

IT WAS NOT PRETTY, but France did enough to reach the quarter-finals by beating Belgium with a deflected goal late in a game that was high on effort, short on quality.

Official statistics showed that these old enemies only managed two shots on target each, and the one that decided this game was a shot from Randall Kolo Muani that took a deflection off Jan Vertonghen before beating Koen Casteels, the Belgian keeper who had barely had to make a save in the previous 85 minutes.

Didier Deschamps admitted his priority was defence rather than attack, even against a below-par Belgium, and he got the result he wanted – just as Gareth Southgate had done on Sunday with England's pragmatic approach.

“We’re very strong at the back, which is indispensable at this level. We don’t concede goals, we only scored one and one was enough. Whether it’s an own goal or deflected goal, someone has to shoot.” 

There had been no shortage of shooting from his players, but he might consider more target practice in their next training session. Aurelien Tchouameni managed a hat-trick of shots blazed over the bar, Kylian Mabppe managed two in the same direction, Adrien Rabiot, Antoine Griezemann and even a marauding William Saliba all put their shots high over Casteels' crossbar.

Marcus Thuram used his head, meanwhile, to miss two good chances. It was the sort of night where those fans sitting high behind the Belgian goal saw more of the ball than Romelu Lukaku, who was anonymous except for one thumping shot that Mike Maignan saved late in the game.

The French keeper also saved from Kevin De Bruyne, who may now be considering international retirement after Belgium failed to live up to their star billing at an international tournament for the third time in three years.

The Manchester City midfielder is pretty much the last man standing from Belgium's Golden Generation, which could once boast Eden Hazard, Mousa Dembele, Vincent Kompany and other world-class players. Now they are having to rebuild under Domenico Tedesco, who is unsure of De Bruyne's plans.

“He knows how important he is,” said the coach. “He knows my opinion but immediately after the game it’s difficult to ask these questions.”

As befitting a game between two teams who were expected to win their respective groups but finished as runners-up, it was underwhelming as a spectacle. France look strong in every area of the pitch, but have yet to really show it at this tournament. Mbappe, wearing a protective mask over his broken nose again, showed flashes of his brilliance but not enough to cut through.

Once again Griezemann was their most creative attacking player, his interplay with right back Jules Kounde producing most of France's best chances in the opening half. From one pinpoint Kounde cross Thuram thumped a header wide. Tchouameni was similarly wasteful, shooting high over the bar twice in the first half, the second effort coming after a jinking run from Mbappe.

The France captain struggled to impose himself in the early stages, got into the game more as it went on, cutting in from the left with increasing menace. Once he shot over the bar, another time he scuffed a golden opportunity wide, and then he teed up Tchouameni to complete a hat-trick of shots over the bar. Mbappe also got involved in a row with Vertonghen, which ended with the Belgian defender being booked.

Maignan was only called into serious action twice, first when Lukaku briefly came to life in the 71st minute, and ten minutes later when he tipped away a similarly venomous drive from De Bruyne.

With extra-time looming, and neither side looking capable of finding the target, France finally broke through. Following patient build-up play from Mbappe, Griezemann and Ngolo Kante, who seemed to cover every blade of grass again, the ball went towards Kolo Muani, on as substitute for Thuram.

The Paris St Germain striker received it with one touch before turning to shoot, and Casteels looked to have it covered before Vertonghen's leg outstretched leg deflected the ball into the net.

“I trust Randal, he has the characteristics to give Belgium a run for their money,” said Deschamps.

“I haven’t used him that much but everything that’s happening around him doesn’t impact him. He shoots, and that’s good for him and the group.

I’m immensely proud of what we’ve done. People expected us to get to the quarter-finals, but let’s not play this down. It was a high level game, a close call. I understand for them (Belgium) it’s hard to take defeat. We wanted to savour the moment, because reaching the quarter-finals is important for us.”

FRANCE (4-3-3): Maignan 6; Kounde 8, Upamecano 7, Saliba 7, Hernandez 7; Kante 9, Tchouameni 6, Rabiot 6; Griezmann 8, Thuram 5 (Muani, 62), Mbappe 7.

BELGIUM (4-3-3): Casteels 6; Castagne 6 (De Ketelaere, 88), Faes 6, Vertonghen 6, Theate 6; De Bruyne 7, Onana 7, Carrasco 6 (Lukébakio, 88); Opienda 6 (Mangala, 63), Lukaku 4, Doku 7.

Referee: Glenn Nyberg (Sweden) 8.