Randal Kolo Muani of France celebrates after scoring a goal in the UEFA Nations League game against Belgium at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France, September 9, 2024. /CFP
Even after leaving star forward Kylian Mbappe on the bench to start the match, France handed Belgium yet another loss in the UEFA Nations League on Monday.
Two of Mbappe's former teammates at Paris Saint-Germain, Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembele, struck with powerful shots either side of halftime in a 2-0 win in Lyon.
The latest win helped France make up ground in the top-tier Nations League group after losing to Italy 3-1 in Paris on Friday. Italy beat Israel 2-1 on Monday with goals from Davide Frattesi and Moise Kean and leads the four-team group.
Mbappe was rested from the start despite France seeking to avoid a third straight loss, two months after a European Championship semifinals exit against eventual title winner Spain.
Real Madrid's new star had little preseason preparation after Euro 2024 and played a full game against Italy. He was eased in against Belgium by coach Didier Deschamps, who sent on his captain in the 67th minute to replace Kolo Muani.
Ousmane Dembele (#11) of France shoots in the UEFA Nations League game against Belgium at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Lyon, France, September 9, 2024. /CFP
France extended their winning run over Belgium to four games in the Mbappe era. Starting in the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinals, Les Bleus also eliminated Belgium in the 2021 Nations League semifinals and in the Euro 2024 round of 16.
Monday's game was 43 years to the day since France lost a competition game against Belgium, in 1981 in Brussels in a World Cup qualifier.
Belgium started with fierce intent and France survived a wave of early attacks in an increasingly testy atmosphere. Belgium forward Lois Openda was at the heart of most of the action and confrontations.
"Belgium created plenty of problems for us, especially in the first 25 minutes," Deschamps acknowledged.
France led in the 30th when Kolo Muani lashed in a shot from close range after goalkeeper Koen Casteels pushed out a weak bouncing effort from Dembele.
Dembele was more purposeful in the 57th, cutting in from the right side of the penalty area to score with a rising left-foot shot. A smiling Mbappe was among the substitutes who went on to celebrate with Dembele and lifted him to his feet.
Erling Haaland (C) of Norway controls the ball in the UEFA Nations League game against Austria at the Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway, September 9, 2024. /CFP
Erling Haaland scored a decisive 80th-minute goal in Norway's 2-1 win over Austria and Slovenia star Benjamin Sesko scored a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Kazakhstan. Haaland and Sesko once were clubmates in Austria at Salzburg.
Kerem Akturkoglu scored a hat trick for Türkiye, starting in the second minute, in a 3-1 result over Iceland just days after his move from Galatasaray to Benfica restored his chance to play in the Champions League this season.
Wales scored twice in the first three minutes in Montenegro and hung on for a rain-soaked 2-1 win. The second goal was a dipping shot from 25 meters by Harry Wilson.
On a night for early goals, Romania took a fourth-minute lead in a 3-1 win against Lithuania in third-tier Group 2. In the same group, it took Kosovo until the ninth minute to open the scoring in Cyprus, and Vedat Muriqi also added a second soon after in a 4-0 win.