European Football Championship - Late redemption with an own goal: France's minimalists continue
Düsseldorf (dpa) – Didier Deschamps rejoiced happily around the necks of his players and raised a jubilant fist to the crowd. The relief was immense for France's National Team trainer and his star-studded squad, including Maskenmann Kylian Mbappe. The Belgians, who once again saw their tournament end prematurely, needed consolation.
With the next installment of their minimalist football, the French team quivered in the Euros quarterfinals. The twice European champion won the disappointing Achtelfinale in Duesseldorf on Monday with a 1:0 (0:0) against the Belgian team coached by Domenico Tedesco. The decisive goal came through an own goal by Jan Vertonghen, who deflected a shot from former Bundesliga professional Randal Kolo Muani in the 85th minute.
"It worked out," said Deschamps. "We had more chances and were rewarded. We're one step further and will enjoy it. That's how it goes." The trainer had told him to "bring some freshness" and "play his speed," explained Kolo Muani. "I tried. And I believe I gave the team a new impetus."
Next hurdle for Belgium after WM elimination
Despite scoring only three goals and no goals of their own in the tournament, the French remained undefeated in regular playtime since the 0:1 against Germany at the 2014 World Cup. For the Équipe Tricolore, which has already profited from an own goal five times in this EM, the journey continues on Friday in Hamburg's Viertelfinale. However, they will have to do without midfielder Adrien Rabiot from Juventus Turin, who received his second yellow card in the tournament.
Belgium, on the other hand, must make an early exit under German coach Tedesco's guidance. The perennial favorite around superstar Kevin De Bruyne was already eliminated in the World Cup 2022 group stage. "In the end, a dirty goal decided it, so we're very frustrated," said former Bundesliga goalkeeper Koen Casteels.
"We had a plan. We played well," said De Bruyne. "Too bad we got a goal like that." The will was there. Of course, we're disappointed.
Anticipated top duel turns out to be a snoozer
The much-anticipated supposed top duel quickly turned into a snoozer. Both teams continued their largely uninspired and disappointing performances from the group stage. France made far too little use of the technical abilities in their squad and played with too little tempo.
Topstar Mbappe, who had complained about a significant handicap from his protective mask two weeks ago in the 1:0 against Austria, remained largely unnoticed. The future Real Madrid striker had previously expressed concern about playing with a mask. "It's terrible to play with a mask," Deschamps' captain had grumbled. "You don't see as well, you sweat under it - then you have to wipe the sweat away." In truth, little danger came from the 25-year-old. The striker star stood more than he participated in the attacking play.
Thuram misses best chance before halftime
Among the Belgians, there was a lack of necessary precision in the attack, and once again, the significant performance gap within the team was evident. Captain and star player Kevin De Bruyne often retreated far to initiate the build-up play. As a result, Manchester City's offensive player lost much of his goal-scoring ability.
The best chance the French had was after approximately 34 minutes when the former Gladbach player Marcus Thuram headed the ball just wide of the goal. Until then, Belgium had appeared more dangerous. Overall, the game before half-time was far too static and uneventful on both sides.
Why both teams managed only two goals in the group stage was once again clear. How often both attacking lines failed to hit the target despite having clear shots was alarming.
De Bruyne fails - Kolo Muani scores by luck
The unworthy play continued even after the halftime break. Whenever quick action was required, the tempo was slowed down on both sides, and the stars struggled to find their form. Even the former Bundesliga striker Thuram failed to meet expectations once more. He was substituted after around an hour by the former Frankfurt player Kolo Muani.
In the 83rd minute, De Bruyne failed to score a powerful shot against France's goalkeeper Mike Maignan. On the other side, Kolo Muani rescued the French team coached by Didier Deschamps. Defender Vertonghen made a desperate save of his shot.
- Kylian Mbappe, despite wearing a protective mask, hails from the star-studded French squad that celebrated in Düsseldorf following their 1-0 victory against Belgium in the round of sixteen of the European Football Championship.
- Marcus Thuram, formerly of Borussia Mönchengladbach, missed the best chance for a goal before half-time in the game against Belgium during the Euros quarterfinals.
- Kevin De Bruyne, the Manchester City star, regretted the own goal by Jan Vertonghen that sealed Belgium's elimination in the round of sixteen of the European Football Championship against France.
- Domenico Tedesco's Belgian team succumbed to their second early exit from a major tournament after falling to France in the round of sixteen of the European Football Championship.
- Despite finishing the group stage with only two goals, didier Deschamps' French team, including Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Thuram, remained undefeated in regular playtime since a 0-1 defeat against Germany at the 2014 World Cup.
- Didier Deschamps, the French national team coach, expressed satisfaction with their victory against Belgium in the Euros quarterfinals, advocating for a minimalist approach and emphasizing the importance of playing with speed.
- In the 2014 World Cup, Germany scored a goal against France, ending the French team's unbeaten streak in regular playtime, a feat they wanted to preserve during the European Football Championship.
- Kaiser Chiefs' Kevin De Bruyne, the Belgian superstar, led the team's build-up play at the European Football Championship despite scoring no goals for Belgium in the tournament.
- Jan Vertonghen, the defender who scored an own goal against Belgium in the round of sixteen of the European Football Championship, admitted to feeling frustrated at losing the game because of an unlucky own goal.
- The European Football Championship (EM) saw the French national team (Équipe Tricolore) overcome Belgium with a minimalist football approach, making their way into the quarterfinals where they faced opponents from North Rhine-Westphalia's Hamburg.
