(Duessledorf) Randal Kolo Muani scored late in the second half as France shut out Belgium 1-0 on Monday to reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
On the right side, Kolo Muani fired a shot that hit defender Jan Vertonghen before changing trajectory. As he dove to his right, Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels was powerless to stop the deflection in the 85th minute.e minute.
France, who tried several shots towards Casteels’ net, will now have a date with the winning team of the duel between Portugal and Slovenia.
Wearing a mask once again due to his broken nose, star player Kylian Mbappe had five shots on goal, but none were on target.
PHOTO FRANCK FIFE, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Kylian Mbappé
Both teams were methodical throughout the match, not leaving much space in the penalty area. France, however, had the advantage with 19 shots to just two for Belgium.
France did not win with panache, but for head coach Didier Deschamps, it was “a thing of beauty”.
“We played a tough game against a very good team. It was tight,” he observed. “I think we had the advantage in possession and we created more chances to score. We have to savour this victory. We must not underestimate this achievement. We are in the quarter-finals.”
Add a lucky deflection goal to an own goal and a penalty to France’s total at Euro 2024.
Mbappe, who officially became a Real Madrid player on Monday, will be playing in his first career quarter-finals at the Euros. Les Bleus lost on penalties to Switzerland in the round of 16 in 2021.
It was also a great moment for Kolo Muani, whose last major tournament highlight came when he had a goal robbed by Argentina goalkeeper Emi Martinez in the World Cup final in December 2022.
“I was lucky to get my shot on target,” he said of his goal against Belgium. “It was blocked, but it went in. We’re very, very happy and very, very proud.”
PHOTO BERNADETT SZABO, REUTERS
The Belgians were disappointed after the match.
Belgium return home after a fairly miserable Euro 2024, during which the players were loudly booed by their own fans after a 0-0 draw with Ukraine at the end of the group stage.