JPL
Chanot sees Belgium under Van Bommel stronger than a 4‑1 loss
Chanot’s career and bond with Belgium
Chanot hung up his boots in the summer of 2025 after a final spell of seventeen months at Los Angeles FC in MLS. The former Luxembourgish international earned 72 caps and four goals, and he played roughly one hundred matches in the Jupiler Pro League, almost fifty duels in the Belgian second division and about two hundred MLS matches. His club career in Belgium included White Star Woluwe, Beerschot and three seasons at KV Kortrijk, where he built a strong bond with Belgian football.
Today Chanot works as an analyst at and can be heard on L’After Foot, together with Daniel Riolo and Jérôme Rothen. With his knowledge of both Luxembourg, Belgium and France he offers a unique perspective on Monday’s international match. His presence was considered particularly valuable after the first international break under Zinédine Zidane and Mark Van Bommel.
Analysis of the Red Devils under Van Bommel
According to Chanot, the arrival of Mark Van Bommel marks a clear break with the Rudi Garcia era for the Red Devils. “With Belgium you really see a before and after Rudi Garcia,” he said, referring to the more proactive style of play he now observes. He emphasized that Van Bommel builds on the successful elements of the World Cup, such as the central duo Mechele‑Ngoy, and that the coach’s impact is immediately felt.
Chanot praised the role of Romelu Lukaku, who in his view played a fantastic match and fits perfectly into Van Bommel’s system. “Lukaku can hold long balls and lay them off to Moreira, Lukebakio or Godts, allowing Belgium to switch on at full speed,” he explained. He added that the team remained compact without the ball and played vertically in possession.
The former defender, however, noted that the Devils paid physically in the closing stages, while Les Bleus can field three magicians up front. “Van Bommel also rotated a bit, and if you let France have too much of the ball, it becomes difficult,” he warned. He felt that the 4‑1 defeat was “far too heavy” relative to the course of the match.
Critical notes and future outlook
Chanot also flagged a minor point regarding the new national coach: the timing of substitutions and the choice of a starter are sometimes unclear. He thought that the Belgians are not always aware of their own level, although he acknowledged that Belgium belongs among the eight best countries in the world under Van Bommel. “The team looks more attractive and showed in the victory in Italy that it has confidence in its qualities,” Chanot said.
Finally, Chanot warned that the final score can create a misleading impression. “Anyone who didn’t see the match and only reads 4‑1 thinks that France was dominant. That is not true. With its switches Belgium controlled sixty minutes,” he concluded. He stressed that a defeat remains a defeat, but the score does not fully reflect the actual performance.