France advance to Euro 2024 quarter-finals. At the Merkur-Spiel Arena in Duesseldorf, the ‘Bleus’ beat Belgium 1-0 thanks to an own goal by Vertonghen in the 85th minute. The transalpines will face the winner of Portugal-Slovenia in Hamburg on Friday 5 July, who will play tonight at 9pm.
The match
The game started at a slow pace and with France more proactive. In the 2nd minute Rabiot’s shot in the area ends high. In the 10th minute, Griezmann’s attempt from the edge of the area, central shot and save by Casteels. In the 18th minute Griezmann from a corner for Thuram who tries to head it but misses the target. Deschamps’ national team keeps control of the game and moves the ball around, looking for acceleration and the right corridor. The Red Devils wait closed and compact in their half of the pitch and try to restart with long balls. In the 24th minute De Bruyne looks for the goal with a poisonous right-footed shot from the top left of the area, Maignan, a little surprised, saves with his foot.
In the next action, France restarts but immediately loses the ball, Rabiot commits a foul and is booked. The former PSG player is cautioned and will miss the quarter-finals. Just before the half hour, Openda breaks through on the left and crosses in, Carrasco arrives on time and shoots on goal with Theo who is in the trajectory and saves. In the 34th minute, an opportunity for the transalpines, a splendid cross from the right by Koundé on a pass from Tchouameni, Thuram anticipates Faes but heads it wide. In the 39th minute, an attempt from outside the area by Tchouameni: a strong shot that ends just wide. In injury time, the transalpines attack again: Mbappè slaloms in the area and serves Tchouameni who, from a good position, shoots high.
In the second half we start again without changes and France is always more proactive. Tchouameni from the edge tries to place it with the inside of his right foot into the corner, Faes touches it and almost deceives Casteels, who stretches out and puts it into the corner. In the 9th minute, Mbappé takes personal initiative, extraordinary in starting wide from the left, skipping past a first man with disarming ease, targeting two more by moving inside and then finishing towards the goal: high over the crossbar.
In the 12th minute Kounde crossed low from the right seeing Mbappé’s movement in the middle of the area: first-time shot but the ball went wide. In the 16th minute Belgium made a quick restart, with an extraordinary through ball from De Bruyne into space for Carrasco. Theo Hernandez saves on a slide, stopping him in the middle of the area with a very clean save. In the 17th minute Thuram comes out and Kolo Muani comes on. Shortly afterwards Belgium responds with Mangala for Openda. In the 20th minute Griezmann’s right from the edge and the ball goes wide. In the 24th minute Tchouameni shoots for the third time and sends it high for the third time.
In the 26th minute we see Lukaku, a left footed shot from a tight angle and Maignan blocks with his fists. At the half hour mark Saliba comes back on the left foot, beating Doku and then finishes just wide. In the 38th minute Belgium restarts and De Bruyne arrives to shoot from outside: a stone that Maignan blocks. The match goal arrives in the 40th minute. Prolonged action by the Bleus, with a very long series of passes. The last one is a through ball for Kolo Muani who shoots badly in the area but is lucky enough to see his deflected shot by Vertonghen: Casteels wrong-footed and 1-0 France.