Lacklustre France reach Euro 2024 quarterfinals after Jan Vertonghen own goal

Les Bleus helped by an own goal once again.

With five minutes remaining, substitute Randal Kolo Muani scored to bring the twice-champion France team into the quarterfinals of the 2024 European Championship, defeating a poor Belgium team 1-0.

In Hamburg on Friday, France will play the victor of Portugal versus Slovenia who collide on Monday in the round of 16.

The majority of the encounter saw France in control thanks to plays from Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram, as well as some fast-paced, dangerous play from Kylian Mbappe. Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne forced excellent saves out of French custodian Mike Maignan, trying to give Belgium a late chance to win.

Kolo Muani grabbed a pass from N’Golo Kante as the match appeared to be heading into extra time and blasted a shot that rebounded off Jan Vertonghen and past custodian Koen Casteels.

The two-time winners have not scored a goal from open play yet as they enter the final eight. But as always with Didier Deschamps, they can start over, fly to Hamburg for the quarterfinals, and try again.

Although Deschamps is frequently chastised for taking a conservative stance, he rarely stays with what he knows when it comes to solving France’s problems in front of goal.

With Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele out, Antoine Griezmann and attacker Marcus Thuram were reinstated in Dusseldorf; nevertheless, it was substitute Kolo Muani who helped them to get over the finish line.

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