Zidane-Elf turn the game: Bayern star Olise dismembered Belgium - Italy extends Turkish suffering

France secured a dramatic 4-1 victory over Belgium in the UEFA Nations League on Monday, marking Zinedine Zidane’s first home win as France’s national coach. The match, played at the Stade de France in Paris, saw Michael Olise emerge as the hero, scoring twice and providing an assist to help France maintain their dominance in Group A1. The hosts trailed early when Dodi Lukebakio capitalized on a long pass from Roméo Lavia to break free and score past Guillaume Restes in the 35th minute. However, France turned the tide in the final 15 minutes, with substitutes Desiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Olise orchestrating a remarkable comeback. Doué leveled in the 77th minute with a low shot from outside the box, followed by Cherki’s goal four minutes later after receiving a cross from Olise. Olise then sealed the win with two goals in the final three minutes, first from close range in the 88th minute and then in stoppage time. This result extended France’s unbeaten streak under Zidane, who had previously drawn with Italy in his home debut on Friday. With the win, France climbed to the top of Group A1, maintaining a three-point advantage over Italy, which defeated Turkey 3-1 in Bologna earlier in the day. Belgium, meanwhile, dropped to third after losing ground following their defeat. Zidane made extensive changes to his lineup, starting with only Ousmane Dembélé in the initial XI. The decision paid off as Olise, who had been sidelined due to injury, came off the bench and immediately made an impact. His performance was described as “extraordinary” by teammates, with both Doué and Cherki praising his ability to change the momentum of the game. “It’s a collective effort, too. He (Zidane) brings in ideas, we follow them, we’ve done that well over the last four matches, we’re going to continue like this,” Olise said after the match. Italy, managed by Roberto Mancini, continued their resurgence with a 3-1 win over Turkey. Gianluca Scamacca opened the scoring in the 26th minute with a powerful volley from distance, while Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito added further goals in the second half. Despite a brief equalizer from Aral Simsir, Italy maintained control throughout, securing their second consecutive victory in the tournament. The results mean France and Italy remain in contention for the top two spots in Group A1, with the quarterfinals looming. Belgium, having suffered their second consecutive loss, will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next fixtures. With the Nations League entering its final stages, the focus shifts toward the upcoming knockout rounds, where the top teams will vie for glory. For now, France and Italy have solidified their positions, while Belgium and Turkey face mounting pressure to improve their fortunes.