Michael Olise’s late goal gives Zinedine Zidane winning start in Belgium

Michael Olise scored a superb late winner as France beat Belgium 1-0 in Brussels to give Zinedine Zidane two victories from his first two matches as coach.

The Bayern Munich forward, introduced from the bench in the 77th minute, collected the ball inside his own half before driving forward and curling a shot beyond Senne Lammens into the bottom-left corner in the 88th minute.

France were without captain Kylian Mbappe, who returned to Real Madrid for treatment after injuring his left knee while scoring the winner in last Friday’s 1-0 victory away to Turkey.

Olise’s goal secured another narrow win for Zidane, who replaced Didier Deschamps after the World Cup. France now lead UEFA Nations League Group A1 with six points, three clear of Belgium and Italy. Italy moved on to three points after beating Turkey 4-1 on Monday.

France will face Italy at the Stade de France on Friday in Zidane’s homecoming before hosting Belgium next Monday.

“He is a pure talent and he loves to just play. You can see it. He feels the game. I am pleased to be at his side,” Zidane told broadcaster TF1 after sprinting down the touchline and kicking a ball in celebration of Olise’s goal.

“We need a rest now. We have done a lot of travelling and not much training or resting,” he added.

“We were really good in every department. Against a really good Belgium side who made us suffer we held out, we played really well, and we were brave.

“We had some difficulties in the second half at times but that was to be expected with all the changes we made. I think we dominated the game. Overall we deserved to win and we got the goal towards the end.”

France made nine changes at the King Baudouin Stadium, with goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Chelsea defender Maxence Lacroix the only players retained from the starting line-up against Turkey.

Liverpool defender Jeremy Jacquet made his debut, while Como midfielder Lucas Da Cunha and Rennes forward Esteban Lepaul also made their first appearances for France. Lepaul was the leading scorer in France’s Ligue 1 last season.

Belgium, led by new coach Mark van Bommel, made only two changes to the side that began their 2-0 win in Italy last Friday.

France created the clearer opportunities during a goalless first half. Paris Saint-Germain forward Desire Doue hit the crossbar, while Da Cunha struck the post early after the interval.

The match appeared destined to finish without a goal until Olise’s decisive intervention. The London-born player carried possession from his own half to the edge of the Belgium penalty area before producing the finish that maintained France’s perfect start under Zidane.