UEFA Men's Nations League - Semi-final
BelgiumBelgium2FranceFrance3

Nations League: Belgium 2-3 France: Benzema, Mbappe, Hernandez score

By Shamoon HafezBBC Sport
France celebrate
France also beat Belgium in the 2018 World Cup semi-final

Theo Hernandez scored a superb 90th-minute winner as France hit back from 2-0 down to stun Belgium and reach the Nations League final.

Didier Deschamps' side looked out of contention at the break after conceding two goals in the space of four minutes, but a thrilling second-half fightback set up a meeting with Spain.

AC Milan full-back Hernandez was the match-winner, collecting the ball on the edge of the box and firing home a finish into the far corner to spark joyous scenes at the Allianz Stadium in Turin.

It started well for Belgium, who took a 37th-minute lead when Yannick Carrasco cut in from the left and drilled in a finish at the near post, wrongfooting goalkeeper Hugo Lloris.

Just four minutes later, Roberto Martinez's side doubled their advantage as Romelu Lukaku latched on to Kevin de Bruyne's through ball and fired a blistering shot into the roof of the net.

But Karim Benzema pulled a goal back on the hour mark, turning and sliding a finish into the bottom corner from Kylian Mbappe's lay-off.

And they drew level through Mbappe's confidently taken penalty after Youri Tielemans' trip on Antoine Griezmann inside the area.

Lukaku thought he had won it with three minutes remaining after slotting in from Carrasco's low cross, but the strike was ruled out by VAR for offside.

There was still time for Paul Pogba to rattled the crossbar with a sublime curling free-kick from 30 yards out, before Hernandez struck late on.

The final takes place at the San Siro on Sunday (19:45 BST kick-off), while the third-place play-off between Belgium and European champions Italy is in Turin on the same day (14:00).

Marvellous Mbappe at centre of famous comeback

France eased the pressure on boss Deschamps, who had won just one of his previous six games in charge, with a splendid second-half showing to turn the game around.

Belgium should really have taken the lead in the third minute but Lloris made a stunning reflex save to keep out De Bruyne's ferocious effort from 10 yards out.

The Manchester City midfielder thrashed a volley over from the edge of the box following good hold-up play by Lukaku, who should have added to his 68 international goals in the second half but struck a volley straight at the Tottenham goalkeeper.

Mbappe was causing havoc with his pace and trickery and he side-footed a volley from 18 yards out, saved comfortably by goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

With France chasing the game and Belgium happy to sit back, the French pushed on and created numerous chances with Manchester United midfielder Pogba heading over from six yards out and having a rasping drive pushed away by Courtois in the second half.

Benzema, who has scored 10 goals in 10 games for Real Madrid this season, showed he is a man in form by stroking in for 2-1 and Mbappe made it 2-2 from the penalty spot, having missed at Euro 2020 to send his side out.

Griezmann somehow scuffed wide from four yards out, Mbappe curled wide from the edge of the box and with the game heading to extra-time, Hernandez popped up with his first goal for France to seal a famous victory.

'Golden generation' running out of time

Romelu Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku's 68th goal in 101 appearances for Belgium was in vain

Belgium have been ranked the world number one side for more than three years, but are the only team to top the Fifa rankings without claiming a major trophy.

Under Martinez, the team's best finish has been third place at the 2018 World Cup and the search for that elusive trophy goes on.

The country's so called 'golden generation' are running out of time to be remembered as silverware winners, with De Bruyne, Eden Hazard, Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen all aged 30 or over.

Their second-half collapse against the world champions will be of particular concern, given they were in total control at the break courtesy of clinical finishes from Carrasco and Lukaku.

They barely threatened after the interval and wilted under pressure from the resurgent France.

Line-ups

Belgium

Formation 3-4-3

  • 1Courtois
  • 2Alderweireld
  • 3Denayer
  • 5VertonghenBooked at 67mins
  • 21CastagneSubstituted forBatshuayiat 90+2'minutes
  • 6Witsel
  • 8TielemansSubstituted forVanakenat 70'minutes
  • 11Carrasco
  • 7De Bruyne
  • 9Lukaku
  • 10E HazardSubstituted forTrossardat 74'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Boyata
  • 12Mignolet
  • 13Casteels
  • 14Lukebakio
  • 15Foket
  • 16Theate
  • 17Vanaken
  • 18De Ketelaere
  • 19Dendoncker
  • 20Trossard
  • 22Saelemaekers
  • 23Batshuayi

France

Formation 3-4-1-2

  • 1Lloris
  • 5Koundé
  • 4Varane
  • 21Hernández
  • 2PavardSubstituted forDuboisat 90+2'minutes
  • 6Pogba
  • 14RabiotSubstituted forTchouaméniat 75'minutes
  • 22Hernández
  • 7Griezmann
  • 19BenzemaSubstituted forVeretoutat 90+7'minutes
  • 10Mbappé

Substitutes

  • 3Kimpembe
  • 8Tchouaméni
  • 9Martial
  • 11Diaby
  • 12Dubois
  • 13Guendouzi
  • 15Upamecano
  • 16Costil
  • 17Veretout
  • 18Digne
  • 20Ben Yedder
  • 23Maignan
Referee:
Daniel Siebert
Attendance:
12,409

Match Stats

Home TeamBelgiumAway TeamFrance
Possession
Home51%
Away49%
Shots
Home11
Away16
Shots on Target
Home6
Away6
Corners
Home4
Away2
Fouls
Home8
Away6

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Belgium 2, France 3.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Belgium 2, France 3.

  3. Substitution

    Substitution, France. Jordan Veretout replaces Karim Benzema.

  4. Post update

    Foul by Jan Vertonghen (Belgium).

  5. Post update

    Jules Koundé (France) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  6. Substitution

    Substitution, Belgium. Michy Batshuayi replaces Timothy Castagne.

  7. Substitution

    Substitution, France. Léo Dubois replaces Benjamin Pavard.

  8. Goal!

    Goal! Belgium 2, France 3. Theo Hernández (France) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner.

  9. Post update

    Paul Pogba (France) hits the bar with a right footed shot from outside the box from a direct free kick.

  10. Post update

    Foul by Axel Witsel (Belgium).

  11. Post update

    Karim Benzema (France) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  12. Post update

    VAR Decision: No Goal Belgium 2-2 France.

  13. Post update

    Offside, Belgium. Yannick Carrasco tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

  14. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kylian Mbappé (France) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Karim Benzema.

  15. Post update

    Leandro Trossard (Belgium) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Jules Koundé (France).

  17. Post update

    Corner, France. Conceded by Timothy Castagne.

  18. Post update

    Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (France) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Paul Pogba.

  19. Post update

    Offside, Belgium. Leandro Trossard tries a through ball, but Romelu Lukaku is caught offside.

  20. Post update

    Attempt saved. Aurélien Tchouaméni (France) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.

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Scores, Results & Fixtures

Thursday 7th October 2021

As It Stood

A

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Italy633072512
2Netherlands632174311
3Poland62136607
4Bos-Herze6024311-82

B

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Belgium65011661015
2Denmark631287110
3England631274310
4Iceland6006317-140

C

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1France6510125716
2Portugal6411124813
3Croatia6105916-73
4Sweden6105513-83

D

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Spain63211331011
2Germany62311013-39
3Switzerland61329816
4Ukraine6204513-86

E

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Austria641196313
2Norway6312127510
3Romania622289-18
4Northern Ireland6024411-72

F

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Czech Rep640295412
2Scotland631254110
3Israel62227708
4Slovakia6114510-54

G

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Hungary632174311
2Football Union of Russia6222912-38
3Serbia61329726
4Turkey613268-26

H

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Wales651071616
2Finland640275212
3Republic of Ireland603314-33
4Bulgaria602427-52

I

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Montenegro6411102813
2Luxembourg631275210
3Azerbaijan613224-26
4Cyprus6114210-84

J

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Armenia632196311
2North Macedonia62319819
3Georgia61416607
4Estonia603359-43

K

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Slovenia642081714
2Greece633061512
3Kosovo612346-25
4Moldova6015111-101

L

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Albania632184411
2Belarus6312108210
3Lithuania622257-28
4Kazakhstan611459-44

M

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Faroe Islands633095412
2Malta62318629
3Latvia61418447
4Andorra6024111-102

N

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Gibraltar42203128
2Liechtenstein41213215
3San Marino402203-32
View full UEFA Men's Nations League tables