Key occasions
Right here is the report.
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“France are within the quarter-finals thanks to 2 personal targets and a penalty. It’s one factor to develop right into a match, after which there’s no matter that is,” says Kári Tulinius.
They’re smarter than us.
“France should be doing one thing to earn favour from the personal objective gods,” says Peter Oh.
It’s a crafty plan.
Put up-match response: Will Unwin is right here to carry you the publish -match response, as I’ve to go and report the Guardian Soccer Weekly podcast. Thanks in your time and I’m sorry I couldn’t ship a greater match.
Full time: France 1-0 Belgium
Jan Vertonghen unwittingly kneed a scuffed Randal Kolo Muani shot previous his personal hopelessly wrongfooted goalkeeper with simply 4 minutes left on the clock to ship France into the final eight of the competitors. And fact be informed, it was that type of sport.
90+4 min: It’s throughout and please be part of me in prayer so we are able to all thank no matter deity is in your specific nook for that. France undergo to the quarter-finals courtesy of a scrappy personal objective befitting a scrappy sport.
90+3 min: Kevin De Bruyne’s nook is cleared by France. Wout Faes will get the ball launched into the mixer from deep. Griezmann clears.
90+2 min: We’re properly into three minutes of added time as Belgium seek for an equaliser. Doku scurries by way of the left facet of the penalty space and has a shot blocked. Nook!!!
89 min: The objective is being attributed to Vertonghen, who’ll be delighted, little question. It was N’Golo Kante who slipped the ball to Muani, whose mis-kick might see France into the quarter-finals. I gained’t lie – although I drew Belgium within the pub sweepstake and there’s over £100 up for grabs, I’ll be mightily fed up in the event that they get an equaliser. That’s how dire this sport has been.
87 min: France lead courtesy of a objective befitting the sport. They have been speculatively enjoying the ball backwards and forwards throughout the pitch simply exterior the Belgium penalty space and it discovered its method to Muani. His shot was not clear however had sufficient tempo on it to go in after taking a depraved deflection off Vertonghen that left Casteels with no likelihood.
GOAL! France 1-0 Belgium (Vertonghen OG 85)
France are in entrance! Randal Kolo Muani’s scuffed shot is deflected previous the wrongfooted Koen Casteels.
83 min: Kevin De Bruyne has his head in his arms. Why? He’s simply had a low, rasping shot from simply exterior the France penalty space saved by Maignan after good work down the left by Doku and Lukaku.
81 min: “If that is stage at 90 minutes, can we organise some type of emergency diktat to cease it going to additional time,” asks Harry Sensible. “I don’t personally care in the event that they go straight to penalties or settle it with a sport of Rock, Paper, Scissors, however I can’t take any extra of this.”
78 min: This sport is there to be gained however each groups are focussing most of their vitality on not shedding. However what’s this? Mbappe runs on to a Kounde go throughout the face of the Belgium penalty space and shoots excessive over the bar. Kounde was attempting to select Griezmann and Mbappe might need been served maintaining his damaged nostril out of proceedings and leaving the Atletico Madrid man to it.
75 min: “You’ve got a terrific job getting paid to observe the Euros,” writes Debra. “Is the sport so dire? Or are you only a miserabilist? Or a fan of England?”
I’m simply calling it as I see it, Debs. And as an Irishman I can guarantee you the scars of final evening’s trauma inflicted upon me by Jude Bellingham won’t ever heal.
74 min: France nook. Griezmann’s supply to the close to publish is cleared by the primary man. France recycle the ball, Saliba cuts inside Doku from the suitable facet of the penalty space and shoots extensive.
72 min: Kante sends Muani on his method upfield with a stunning reverse go close to the midway line however the substitute’s first contact is as deft as a street-mugger’s and Belgium get the ball again cheaply.
70 min: Belgium likelihood! Mangala drives by way of the left facet of the France field and is picked out by Kevin De Bruyne, who spots his run. He pulls the ball again to Lukaku, whose low shot is properly saved by Maignan. It’s a let-off for France.
70 min: “Kante can’t be a G-Wagon; that’s a Benz,” writes Joe Pearson. “Possibly a Peugeot 5008?”
69 min: France get the ball again and Tchouameni fires one other shot from distance excessive over the bar.
66 min: Belgium have the ball in their very own half and appear decided to maintain it there. Faes performs it to Onana who performs it to Castagne who performs it to Onana who performs it to Faes who performs it to Vertonghen who performs it to Theate who performs it to Casteels who performs it to Castagne and so forth, and so forth. Rinse and repeat.
63 min: A few adjustments. Randal Kolo Muani is on for France, changing the ineffective Marcus Thuram. Belgium carry on Orel Mangala to play alongside Amadou Onana in midfield and permit Kevin De Bruyne to play additional up the pitch. Lois Openda makes method.
62 min: Kevin De Bruyne slips Yannick Carrasco in behind the France defence and he’s by way of on objective down the within proper. Theo Hernandez will get again to slip in and block his shot brilliantly. That was large likelihood for Belgium however their winger didn’t shoot rapidly sufficient.
60 min: For the primary time on this sport, the hideous risk of extra-time crosses my thoughts. Urgh …
58 min: Belgium’s supervisor is livid with the match officers, who’ve simply let two blatant fouls on Jeremy Doku in fast succession by Jules Kounde and the G-Wagon/Transit van go unpunished.
58 min: Wout Faes blocks a low Kounde cross into the Belgium penalty space.
56 min: Mbappe makes a terrific diagonal run in direction of a low Kounde cross from the suitable and tries to steer his shot throughout the face of objective and into the far nook. Extensive. The thought was nice however the execution left rather a lot to be desired.
53 min: The second half has very a lot picked up the place the primary left off, with France within the ascendency however in dire want of some leading edge. A working example: Mbappe darts alongside the sting of the penalty space, chopping in from the left after which fires excessive over the bar. He’d given Kevin de Bruyne the slip, with the Belgium skipper unable to danger fouling him for worry of giving freely a penalty.
49 min: Aurelien Tchouameni tries his luck from distance and his shot takes a nick off a defender. Koen Casteels will get down low to his left to bat it out for a nook. France subsequently win a free-kick, extensive on the left. The ball’s despatched in to the mixer, half-cleared and the ball drops properly for Kounde. His floated supply into the field is nice and Thuram heads over from seven or eight yards. Not ok, Marcus.
48 min: France go the ball round on the again with Lois Openda scurrying from one defender to the subsequent, to no nice impact.
46 min: “I’m not stunned that neither supervisor has made any adjustments in any respect as a result of bizarrely, they’ll each be proud of how that first half went,” says Coisty on ITV co-comms. “It’ll be fascinating to see which coach makes a change to truly attempt to go and win the sport, slightly than not lose it.”
Clever phrases, spoken in a stunning Scottish burr.
Second half: France 0-0 Belgium
46 min: Fasten your seatbelts, we go once more. Amadou Onana and Kevin De Bruyne get the ball rolling and there are not any adjustments in personnel on both facet that I’m conscious of.
An e mail: “Kante a Transit?” writes Chris Ross. “The person’s a G Wagon. Peace and love.”
An e mail: “It is a typical Euro 2024 sport: completely pedestrian,” writes Kev McReady. “By the way, isn’t it humorous the very best participant at this match is Kante? Like a Transit van successful a Grand Prix.”
Whereas I wouldn’t essentially agree that it’s typical of the match, most of the supposedly nice groups have been dire. There have been loads of terrific video games on this match, lots of them that includes Georgia.
Half-time: France 0-0 Belgium
It’s 45 minutes none of us will ever get again and France are within the ascendency however missing that leading edge which may have helped them take the lead they in all probability nearly deserve. Belgium have proven indicators of life however their head coach Domenico Tedesco Kevin de Bruyne has vital work to do within the dressing-room over the subsequent quarter-hour.
45+1 min: Good work by Mbappe, who scurries and ferrets alongside the byline earlier than pulling the ball again to Tchouameni in a very good capturing place. He blazes the ball excessive over the bar due to course he does. It’s half-time.
44 min: I’ve simply been alerted to the truth that the identify within the byline of this text was incorrect and has been mounted. Please be happy to direct your ire to Barry Glendenning, for it’s me who has been tasked with reporting on this nothingness. Taha Hashim is totally harmless and France have a nook. Jan Vertonghen clears.
42 min: Mbappe performs the ball extensive to Kounde on the suitable. He performs it again inside to Griezmann, who performs it out extensive to Hernandez on the opposite facet through Mbappe. For the love of God …
38 min: A Tchouameni dink into the Belgium penalty space is headed clear by Wout Faes as France proceed to press and probe. I suppose if something, this sport is sort of a large steaming tur… chess match.
37 min: A fast swap of play from France. Jules Kounde’s cross is superb however Marcus Thuram can’t steer his header on the right track. He ought to have performed higher.