Report from Euro 2024 as France depart it late to e-book their spot within the quarter-finals; Randal Kolo Muani’s strike deflects off Jan Vertonghen to beat Koen Casteels and seal victory in eighty fifth minute; France await winner of Portugal vs Slovenia in final eight
By Oliver Yew, Senior Soccer Journalist @OliverYew
6:05, UK, Tuesday 02 July 2024
France left it late as they laboured to a 1-0 victory towards Belgium to e-book their place within the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.
With the sport heading for extra-time, Randel Kolo Muani was France’s hero as his eighty fifth minute strike deflected off defender Jan Vertonghen and previous goalkeeper Koen Casteels to seal victory.
France managed possession for a lot of the competition and went closest to breaking the impasse both facet of half-time by way of Marcus Thuram and Aurelien Tchouameni, whereas Kylian Mbappe additionally threatened with some dazzling footwork – however his ending was off color as France struggled to check Casteels.
Belgium might have gained the sport themselves late on with Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne each forcing good saves from goalkeeper Mike Maignan, earlier than the scruffy decisive second despatched France by way of to the subsequent stage.
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Kevin De Bruyne’s late shot virtually grabbed victory for Belgium
Didier Deschamps’ facet will meet the winner of Monday night’s match between Portugal and Slovenia within the quarter-finals in Hamburg on Friday (kick-off 8pm).
I believe France have been the higher crew. Clearly, the standard wasn’t actually there. It wasn’t a shock that it was an personal objective that settled the sport. You additionally want a little bit of luck. France stored a clear sheet and whenever you try this, you’ll at all times have an opportunity.
Sky Sports activities’ Roy Keane
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Pleasure for France, despair for Belgium…
France have now gained three successive video games towards Belgium.
Excluding penalty shoot-outs, Deschamps’ facet have misplaced solely one in all their final 15 Euros matches (gained eight and drawn six).
Can they go on so as to add to their 1984 and 2000 European Championship successes?
Picture:
France rejoice reaching the final eight
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Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku react after Belgium’s 1-0 defeat to France
Neville: Vertonghen can be devastated by large mistake
Sky Sports activities’ Gary Neville talking on ITV about France’s late winner and Vertonghen’s involvement:
“I believe Vertonghen can be actually dissatisfied [with the goal], and never simply because it will get credited to him as an personal objective.
“He has bought to shift up. Kolo Muani would not do something superb. He is a bit of bit scruffy on the flip.
“However he is bought to shift up. When you’re one or two yards off, that is not unfortunate, it falls into the class of poor defending and he is aware of that, he is an skilled participant.
“I have been there. I’d class that from a defender with large expertise as a giant mistake. He’ll recognise that. He’ll be devastated as a result of what he’ll even be considering is ‘will it’s the final time I am right here?’ That is the place it actually hits house for gamers.”
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Deschamps: Savour the second
France boss Didier Deschamps:
“It is lovely, we performed a giant recreation, it was tight however we loved possession and we had extra alternatives. We now have to savour it, it is fairly an achievement. We’re within the quarter-finals, they are going house.
“We made quite a lot of progress and our opponents have been clearly cautious, even when they’re an attacking crew on paper. We did every thing we might to create probabilities, and we created greater than them, however we performed the ready recreation and did not fall into their entice. I appreciated that, however clearly you may’t win by way of possession alone.
“I might like us to create extra probabilities however we’re into the quarter-finals and that is what counts. Let’s not play down that second.”
De Bruyne: We did every thing to attempt to win
Belgium captain Kevin De Bruyne:
“We did every thing to attempt to win. We have been 5 minutes from extra-time.
“We had probabilities, not so many. Then they rating and there is not sufficient time to react.
“We have been defending fairly properly however then there is a deflection. It is a disgrace however that is soccer… I had that probability in the direction of the tip however could not rating. The keeper did properly. The crew actually did every thing we might do.”
Stats: Story of the match
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Who performs who within the quarter-finals?
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