Zinedine Zidane’s joy spilled out of the technical area on Monday, September 28th in Brussels. After Michael Olise’s decisive goal against Belgium, the French national team coach sprinted down the touchline before striking a ball that was in his path. An unexpected scene at the end of a 1-0 victory for France in the Nations League.
A celebration befitting the relief
The goal came in the 88th minute. Having come on as a substitute eleven minutes earlier, Olise received a pass from Rayan Cherki, accelerated from the halfway line, beat Maxim De Cuyper, and finished with his left foot. This individual effort gave the French their second win in two matches since the start of the tournament. ( fff.fr )
On the sidelines, Zidane follows the action with his own momentum: he sprints off, then strikes a ball near the touchline. The gesture contrasts sharply with the manager’s generally reserved demeanor during the match. It also reflects the tension of a game that remained undecided for a long time, finally decided in the dying minutes.
The sequence quickly captured attention, but its origin shouldn’t be overshadowed: the burst of joy stemmed from a goal created by substitutes. Cherki set up Olise, who converted a counter-attack into the only goal of the evening. According to the French Football Federation’s match report, the winger had replaced Bradley Barcola in the 77th minute. ( fff.fr )
The facts
The League A match was played at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Belgium lost 1-0 to France, with Olise scoring in the 88th minute. UEFA described the goal as a breakthrough from their own half, while the French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the score, the location, and the sequence of events. ( fff.fr )
For Zidane, this victory marks his team’s second consecutive win in the 2026-2027 Nations League, following the 1-0 victory in Turkey. The French Football Federation (FFF) indicates that Les Bleus take the lead in their group after this matchday. ( fff.fr )
A significant victory for the French national team.
Beyond the image of the coach sprinting down the touchline, this result confirms France’s strong start to the competition. France waited until the end of the match to make the difference, but leaves Brussels with three points and first place in the group. Zidane’s celebration will remain the most spectacular moment of an evening that concluded with Olise’s compo in front of goal.
Source: franceinfo- Foot
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