Zidane's Subs Spark Stunning Comeback as France Thrash Belgium 4-1

Zinedine Zidane's France produced a breathtaking late show on Monday night, coming from a goal down to thrash Belgium 4-1 in the UEFA Nations League at the Stade de France. The victory was the manager's first home win in charge and kept Les Bleus top of Group A1. Belgium struck first against the run of play when Dodi Lukebakio latched onto Romeo Lavia's superb through ball in the 35th minute and finished coolly past debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes. France dominated possession but kept running into a wall of Belgian bodies, and with an hour gone Zidane rolled the dice with a triple substitution that changed everything. Desire Doue levelled in the 77th minute with a left-footed strike from the edge of the box, and four minutes later Rayan Cherki swept home from a Michael Olise cutback to put France ahead. Olise, the Bayern Munich winger, then added two close-range finishes — one just before stoppage time and one during it — to complete the rout. France now sit on 10 points from four matches, three clear of Italy and four ahead of Belgium.