FRANCE will meet Spain in the Nations League Final following a shocking comeback against Belgium.
Roberto Martinez’s men led 2-0 at half-time following goals by Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.
But Les Bleus fought back in the second half and equalised within seven minutes with Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe.
The Belgians had a goal by Lukaku overruled for offside before Theo Hernandez’s late winner sent the reigning world champions to the final.
- Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Hazard, Lukaku.
- France XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, L. Hernandez; Pavard, Pogba, Rabiot, T. Hernandez; Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappe
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Follow ALL of the latest updates…
THAT’S ALL FROM TURIN!
France have made it to the Nations League Final after a stunning comeback that saw them beat Belgium 3-2 at the Juventus Stadium.
The Belgians opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Yannick Carrasco picked up a pass from Kevin De Bruyne down the left wing and broke inside the area.
Carrasco delivered a clever shot down Hugo Lloris’ tight angle with the French goalkeeper being caught by surprise as his sight was blocked by Benjamin Pavard.
Roberto Martinez’s men doubled their lead just three minutes later when De Bruyne found Romelu Lukaku inside the area and the Chelsea star beat Lloris with a powerful shot down the Tottenham shot stopper’s tight angle.
But Les Bleus refused to give up and got back in the game on 62 minutes when Karim Benzema turned around Jason Denayer and defeated Thibaut Courtois with a marvellous shot.
Antoine Griezmann was then fouled by Youri Tielemans inside the area and the Tricolores earned a penalty just seven minutes later following a VAR check.
Kylian Mbappe beat Courtois from the spot with a powerful shot that smashed the Real Madrid star’s top left corner.
Belgium thought they snatched the win during the dying moments of the match when Lukaku converted a brilliant cross from Carrasco but VAR deemed the former was offside.
France completed their unbelievable comeback in the first minute of stoppage time when Pavard’s low cross from the right was deflected by Toby Alderweireld and met Theo Hernandez on the other side.
Hernandez fired an unstoppable shot that was met by a weak save from Courtois who, couldn’t keep the ball away from his net.
That’s all from us here at SunSport, have a lovely evening!
GETTY IMAGES DOWN BUT NOT OUT
France are not used to this kind of comeback they put together against Belgium.
In fact, Les Bleus had not won a match after being down 2-0 or more at half-time since their friendly win over Iceland in May 2012 at the Stade du Hainaut
The Tricolores were 2-0 down following Birkir Bjarnason and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson’s strikes.
But France came back in the second half and won 3-2 thanks to Mathieu Debuchy, Franck Ribery and Adil Rami’s goals
GETTY IMAGES TO DEZ IS TO DO
AC Milan star Theo Hernandez scored France’s winner against Belgium.
That marked Hernandez’s first ever international goal on his second cap with Les Bleus.
The full-back netted that winner on a special day as this Nations League semi-final marked the first time brothers play together for the Tricolores since Herve and Patrick Revelli against Romania in March 1974.
The 24-year-old was in Didier Deschamps’ line-up along with his brother Lucas Hernandez
GETTY IMAGES
WHAT’S NEXT?
France are going to face Spain in the Nations League Final on Sunday at the San Siro.
Reminding you that the Furia Roja defeated reigning European champions Italy 2-1 on Wednesday.
Luis Enrique’s men ended the Azzurri’s world-record run of 37 matches without defeat.
That means Belgium will lock horns with Roberto Mancini’s men in a third-place play-off at the Juventus Stadium that same day.
That will pose as a rematch for the Euro 2020’s quarter-final that saw Italy beating Roberto Martinez’s squad
GETTY IMAGES NOT MESSING AROUND
Belgium star Kevin De Bruyne completed quite a stat against France in Turin.
Manchester City talisman De Bruyne is the first player to deliver two assists in the same game against Les Bleus since 2018.
That is when Lionel Messi created two goals in the World Cup’s Last 16 stage.
More below:
STATS
Belgium dominated 51.2 per cent of possession throughout the Nations League semi-final.
France evened the scales somehow in the second half during a marvellous comeback.
Roberto Martinez’s men registered a total of 11 shots, six of which were on target.
France, on the other hand, recorded 16 shots, six of which were on target.
FT: FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
France have made it to the Nations League Final after a stunning comeback against Belgium at the Juventus Stadium.
The Belgians opened the scoring on 37 minutes when Yannick Carrasco picked up a pass from Kevin De Bruyne down the left flank and broke inside the area.
Carrasco fired a clever shot down Hugo Lloris’ tight angle with the French goalkeeper being caught by surprise as his sight was blocked by Benjamin Pavard.
Roberto Martinez’s men doubled their lead just three minutes later when De Bruyne found Romelu Lukaku inside the area and the Chelsea star beat Lloris with a powerful shot down the Tottenham keeper’s tight angle.
But Les Bleus refused to give up and got back in the game on 62 minutes when Karim Benzema turned around Jason Denayer and beat Thibaut Courtois with a marvellous shot.
Antoine Griezmann was then fouled by Youri Tielemans inside the area and the Tricolores earned a penalty just seven minutes later thanks to a VAR check.
Kylian Mbappe beat Courtois from the spot with a powerful shot that smashed inside Courtois’ top left corner.
Belgium thought they snatched the victory during the dying moments of the match when Lukaku converted a brilliant cross from Carrasco but VAR deemed the former was offside.
France completed their astonishing comeback in the first minute of stoppage time when Pavard’s low cross from the right was deflected by Toby Alderweireld and met Theo Hernandez on the other side.
Hernandez delivered an unstoppable shot that was met by a weak save from Courtois who, couldn’t keep the ball away from his net
GETTY IMAGES PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
THAT’S FULL-TIME IN TURIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
90+6 SUBSTITUTION
France manager Deschamps tries to slow the game down with a substitution as Veretout replaces Benzema
FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
90+4 Referee initially gave four minutes of stoppage time.
But it seems like we will go until the fifth due to Theo’s goal
FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
90+2 SUBSTITUTION
France manager Deschamps replaces Pavard with Dubois.
Meanwhile, Martinez introduces Batschuayi, who takes Castagne’s place
FRANCE 3-2 BELGIUM
90+1 France have completed an incredible comeback!
Pavard delivers a cross from the right that is deflected by Alderweireld.
The ball reaches Theo on the other side and he beats Courtois with a marvellous shot that meets a weak save from Courtois!
GOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLL!
FRANCE TURN THE GAME AROUND WITH THEO HERNANDEZ!!!!!!!!
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
90 WHAT A CHANCE!
France come just inches, INCHES, away from an equaliser.
Pogba whips in a free-kick from 20-odd yards and hits the post on Courtois’ top left corner!
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
87 NO GOAL!
Carrasco delivers a beautiful cross from the left and finds Lukaku who beats Lloris with a brilliant shot.
But VAR deems the Chelsea star is offside and thus France are still in this!
However, Belgium proved how dangerous they still are on the counter-attack!
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL!
BELGIUM SCORE WITH LUKAKU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
86 CHANCE!
France move the ball very nicely with Mbappe, Pogba and a much improved Griezmann.
The ball goes to Mbappe, who breaks inside the area but his shot just misses the target!
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
85 Belgium are practically lifeless.
Based on what we’re seeing, the Belgians would love for this to go to extra time
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
83 Belgium are struggling defensively, a far cry from their earlier performance in which they convinced they can control the game.
Alderweireld has been having a tough time ans the same goes for De Bruyne when he pulls back
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
80 CHANCE
Griezmann tries a long-range shot but it doesn’t worry Courtois.
As it stands, the game is heading towards extra-time
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
80 France are absolutely dominating possession and tempo as we head towards full-time.
Belgium have been almost non-existent, they seem to have crumbled after Benzema’s goal
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
78 We can only imagine what this moment means for Mbappe…
Surely the PSG star has exorcised his demons from Euro 2020
GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
77 CHANCE!
Tchouameni’s shot from the edge of the box is blocked by Courtois!
France are really knocking on Belgium’s door, they aren’t slowing down!
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
75 SUBSTITUTION
France manager Deschamps makes a change that he was planning before the penalty and left it for later.
Tchouameni replaces Rabiot
FRANCE 2-2 BELGIUM
74 SUBSTITUTION
Belgium boss Martinez makes another change as Brighton’s Trossard replaces Hazard, who struggled to stand out
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
