France dominate Belgium thanks to Da Cunha, Lacroix and Doué
While the first half was marked by an almost total calm, the second saw the Blues impose their rhythm in Belgium, thanks to a remarkable performance by Lucas Da Cunha, the solidity of Maxence Lacroix and the intensity of Désiré Doué. Published at 23:15, the players' ratings were later relayed after an attractive victory in the Nations League.
An impressive debut for Da Cunha
In his first appearance in midfield, Lucas Da Cunha delivered a very promising match, showing great quality in the build‑up and a rare composure for a twenty‑one‑year‑old. He compensated for his lack of speed with good positioning, winning numerous duels and taking part in an on‑target strike in the twenty‑seventh minute.
LacroiX, the pillar of the pivot
Maxence Lacroix shone in the pivot, ensuring ball recovery and distribution with ease. He was also vigilant in duels, dominating most of his confrontations and providing crucial support to the midfield, even though his offensive contribution could have been slightly more incisive.
Doué, the unstoppable striker
Désiré Doué was unstoppable in front of the Belgian goal, creating several chances and being available throughout the match. Despite a lack of finishing success, he generated imbalance on the right flank thanks to his speed, thus posing a constant threat to the Belgian defenders.
Zidane bets on Lucas Da Cunha to refresh the midfield of the Blues
Esteban Lepaul, for his part, was less visible in his first appearance up front, managing only few scoring opportunities. Mike Maignan, goalkeeper of the Blues, experienced a missed pass at the very start, but quickly regained his confidence, making a good save in the seventeenth minute and contributing to a second consecutive clean sheet.
The Milan goalkeeper also covered his defense on several occasions, notably against the pace of Mika Godts, who sometimes left opponents dizzy. He was decisive on one of the rare Belgian chances in the sixty‑third minute, while maintaining a reassuring presence throughout the second half.
The French team, under the manager, made nine changes compared to the previous match against Turkey, without losing quality. The changes, notably the introduction of scorer Mickael Olise, proved timely, strengthening the attack and maintaining pressure on the Belgian defence.
Olise propels the Blues to victory over Belgium
In summary, the collective performance of the Blues was honest and effective, each player contributing, from Da Cunha's build‑up to Maignan's defensive solidity, through Lacroix's creativity and Doué's energy.