In a dramatic turn of events, France secured their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals with a late own goal by Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen, clinching a 1-0 victory at the Dusseldorf Arena.
The match, which had seen limited quality and excitement, seemed destined for extra time until the 85th minute. N’Golo Kanté skillfully slid the ball to substitute Randal Kolo Muani, who turned Vertonghen and got a shot away. The ball deflected off Vertonghen’s knee, wrongfooting goalkeeper Koen Casteels and finding the back of the net.
Throughout the match, France had missed several chances, with even their captain Kylian Mbappe failing to convert opportunities he would typically finish. Despite dominating possession and pass accuracy, France struggled to find a cutting edge in their attack.
Belgium, despite a lackluster performance, had a golden chance to take the lead when Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne made a powerful run through the middle. His shot, however, was expertly saved by France’s goalkeeper Mike Maignan. This was Belgium’s only significant opportunity as France controlled the closing minutes to secure their win.
As the clock ticked down, France managed to maintain their lead and secure their advancement to the last eight. The own goal by Vertonghen, though unfortunate for Belgium, marked the moment France had been striving for, propelling them one step closer to their Euro 2024 ambitions.
Statistically, France had 19 shots to Belgium’s 5, but both teams managed only 2 shots on target each. France held 56% of possession and completed 608 passes with a 92% accuracy rate, compared to Belgium’s 497 passes with 88% accuracy. The match saw a total of 17 fouls, with France committing 7 and Belgium 10. Both teams received yellow cards, with France getting 3 and Belgium 2, but no red cards were issued.
France now await the winner of the match between Portugal and Slovenia to determine their opponent in the quarter-finals.
Melissa Enoch
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