Analysis The numbers behind the result
France's late Olise strike punishes Belgium's defensive resistance
France's 1-0 victory was justified by their dominance in possession (65%) and chance creation, but Belgium's compact defensive setup kept them in contention until late. Despite having just 35% possession, Belgium limited France to only 7 shots on target from 18 total efforts, with a disciplined low block forcing Les Bleus into less dangerous areas (6 blocked shots).
The decisive moment came in the 88th minute when substitute Rayan Cherki assisted Michael Olise's winner, highlighting France's superior bench impact. Belgium's three yellow cards (Moreira 42', De Bruyne 57', Tielemans 66') reflected their stretched midfield, particularly after De Bruyne's substitution on 63 minutes. France's 6 corners to Belgium's 2 and 12 shots inside the box (vs Belgium's 7) underlined their territorial command.
The key stat: France's 625 accurate passes (92% success rate) to Belgium's 301 (83%) allowed sustained pressure, with Belgium managing just 2 shots on target all game. Olise's clinical finish (1 of only 7 French shots on target) ultimately broke their resistance.