Red Devils leave disappointed evening against France, what a pity

On Monday 28 September 2026, at 23:28, the Red Devils were at the King Baudouin Stadium facing France. After 87 minutes of play they kept pace with the opponent, but a ruthless late tap from Michael Olise decided the match. So disappointing, that is the feeling of the Belgians.

Late goal decides outcome

Michael Olise, who was brought on in the final minute of the match, scored the only goal of the evening. It was the first defeat under coach Mark van Bommel, who had not suffered a loss since taking charge. The Red Devils left the field with a disappointing defeat.

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Players express disappointment

Nathan Ngoy said: “We need to be a bit bolder. We had the chances to win, but we must learn lessons from this match.” Youri Tielemans added: “I am still disappointed that we go home without a win. We just need to score a goal today.” Roméo Lavia, who earned his first start with the Devils, said: “I really got goosebumps, I am proud to play this match, but I am very disappointed.” Brandon Mechele concluded: “A draw would have been fairer; we gave a lot and our block was solid.”

Three Belgian players miss the clash with France at King Baudouin Stadium

Lavia described the atmosphere in the King Baudouin Stadium as “incredible”. He felt no nerves, but adrenaline, and emphasized that the coach gave him small tips that help him progress. Despite the disappointment he saw positive developments over the past three years.

Mark van Bommel acknowledged that the details of France made the difference. He emphasized that the Red Devils need to grow to the level of their opponent and that the coming weeks are crucial for the team's development.

The players spoke about the need to handle pressure in the final minutes better. They want to turn the lessons learned into more goals and a stronger defensive work, so that a next confrontation with a top team will unfold differently.

Mark van Bommel sees his son benefit from a last‑minute forfeit

Although the evening for the Red Devils ended “very disappointing”, optimism remains about the individual performances and the growth of the collective. The team looks ahead to the next matches with the intention to master the details that now made the difference.