Zinedine Zidane praises France’s response in four-goal win over Belgium

Zinedine Zidane said France produced the kind of football he enjoys watching as his side recovered from a difficult first half to beat Belgium 4-1 in the fourth round of the Nations League.

France struggled to find the finishing touch before the interval but produced an outstanding second-half display to turn the match in their favour.

“This is the football we like,” France manager Zidane told reporters after the game. “There were difficulties, but they are part of the game and part of the type of matches you can play.”

He was pleased with the way his players responded to the problems they encountered before half-time.

“It is good to correct mistakes, and that is what we did in an exceptional second half,” he said. “We lacked the final touch in the first half, then we turned the match around and it was good.”

Zidane also highlighted the contribution of the substitutes, saying he had expected them to influence the contest.

“Our message to the substitutes? We knew we were capable of changing the match because they are players of high quality,” he said. “It was a complete match that we played, and everyone was good during these 15 days.”

Despite the emphatic victory, Zidane believes France still need to improve their presence in the penalty area.

“You need to improve your presence inside the box,” he said. “We lacked that in all the matches, except at the end of the game against Belgium.

“We must be inside the area when there are runs from the wingers or crosses. That will come gradually.”

The manager added that he had been impressed by the attitude of the squad during their first gathering together.

“I was surprised during the first camp by the mentality of all the players, and I was happy to spend these days with them,” Zidane said.

He also praised the way the squad had accepted his decision to rotate the team, insisting that the reaction of those left out or replaced reflected the strength of the group.

“Everyone accepted it, and that is what distinguishes this group,” he said. “Even the players who were replaced were happy for their team-mates who came on and scored. I planned things so that everyone would get an opportunity.”