Nervy France progress to Euro 2024 quarter-finals at the expense of Belgium as Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal separates the two nations after dire opening 85 minutes

In the long run, Jan Vertonghen's knee bone proved decisive, within the final section of a recreation that was approaching the agony of suspense. A partial transfer by the Dutch captain to counter the French ahead, who rotated him and hit a shot and out of the blue Belgium's marketing campaign was over. It's a determined threat of a knock-out.

It was a troublesome one for the small nation, struggling to regain any confidence throughout a recreation that was dominated by France on the pitch.

There was hardly anybody extra pissed off than Kevin De Bruyne, who had his nation's greatest probability simply minutes earlier than France scored. He fired a shot at France goalkeeper Mike Maignan that he would have buried most days in Manchester.

The win means France are by to the quarter-finals on the again of two personal targets and a penalty – none coming from outfield. However you solely have to look at Didier Descamps assault Mbappe to grasp that simply getting there was sufficient after a tense night.

'The Irresistible Francis' is the slogan plastered on a banner that has accompanied French folks throughout the nation, at the same time as they search to free themselves from their dependence on Mbappe.

Right here the person modified his masks – smaller eye holes, thicker and extra plentiful cloth, some form of mechanism to maintain it on on the again – and Deschamps organized the gamers in a manner that introduced out the most effective in them on the pitch, however it was a painful try to seek out alternatives.

The proof of our eyes over the previous couple of years tells us that Mbappe strikes the ball with searing pace, although France's advanced, absorbing, typically maddening aesthetics don’t allow that.

They’d some nice moments within the first half – Jules Kounde’s highly effective run to pick Aurelien Tchouameni’s 40-foot diagonal cross and a cross that Marcus Thuram, outpacing Voet Face, headed huge; Antoine Griezmann coming in from the appropriate and pulling the occasional lever. Aurelien Tchouameni dictating play from deep.

However Thuram was not dynamic and there was little to point out for the top end in a slender recreation as Belgium's defensive system stagnated. Mbappe discovered himself operating right into a wall of maroon. Belgian followers sang 'Please don't take me residence' in his memorable type, however there was not a lot to maintain him right here.

It appeared a mark of Belgium's weak spot that they have been sitting so deep, and exhibiting little ambition, though the presence of Manchester Metropolis's Jeremy Doku – who had shone for them within the first half – gave them the braveness to do extra.

Doku earned a free kick on the left fringe of the field that created Belgium's greatest probability of the primary half – a low, slanting De Bruyne free-kick that Maignan, seemingly invisible, scrambled to move residence simply off the goal-line when the ball reached him.

However France usually withstood this variation, and Belgium had so many deep-strike forces that there have been no attacking troops to spare.

France stepped up their tempo within the second half, with Chouameni continuously trying to shoot from distance and Mbappe twice making his well past De Bruyne on the sting of the field and narrowly lacking a header. He then parried a strong shot from the appropriate earlier than Kounde parried it huge.

After which, there was the ending which left the Belgian gamers wandering across the pitch questioning what had occurred to them and Vertonghen staring into house.

Ahead Randall Kolo Muani, who changed Thuram, rotated a central defender and hit a shot that deflected in. France's battle to attain reveals there is no such thing as a cause to concern them, though they’ve moved ahead as a result of they’ve Mbappe. That makes them a menace to anybody.