Zinedine Zidane Hails 'Extraordinary' France After Michael Olise Masterclass Inspires Dramatic Nations League Comeback Against Belgium

Zinedine Zidane praised an “extraordinary” second half from France after Michael Olise inspired a dramatic 4–1 comeback victory over Belgium in the Nations League. The Bayern Munich forward came off the bench to deliver a goal and two assists as Les Bleus turned a difficult night into a convincing win.

Zinedine Zidane hailed France's “extraordinary” second-half response after his side overturned a 1–0 deficit to defeat Belgium 4–1 in the Nations League at the Stade de France.

Belgium appeared on course for a famous victory when Dodi Lukébakio opened the scoring in the first half. France struggled to break down a disciplined Belgian defence before Zidane's substitutions transformed the contest.

Michael Olise, Rayan Cherki and Désiré Doué all came off the bench and combined to produce a devastating late attacking spell. Doué equalised in the 77th minute before Cherki put France ahead four minutes later, with Olise then scoring twice to complete the turnaround.

Zidane Praises France's Extraordinary Second Half

Zidane admitted that France had struggled to find the necessary penetration before the interval, but he was delighted with the response after half-time.

The French manager described the second half as “extraordinary” and praised the collective reaction rather than attributing the comeback solely to the substitutes. He said the team had been missing the final quality in the attacking third before eventually finding a way through.

The victory was particularly significant for Zidane because it represented his first home win since taking charge of the national team.

Olise Changes The Game From The Bench

The decisive figure was undoubtedly Michael Olise.

Introduced after the hour mark, the Bayern Munich forward immediately gave France greater attacking threat. He supplied the cross from which Cherki scored the second goal before finding the net himself twice in the closing stages.

His first goal came in the 88th minute, while his second arrived during stoppage time after a rapid French counter-attack involving Doué.

The performance reinforced Olise's growing importance to Zidane's France, particularly when the team needs greater creativity and penetration against a compact defence.

Belgium Punished For Losing Control

Belgium had looked comfortable for long periods after Lukébakio put them ahead in the 35th minute.

The forward exploited space behind France's defence after receiving a long pass from Romeo Lavia before calmly finishing past debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.

However, Belgium could not maintain their defensive resistance once France increased the tempo. The visitors were eventually overwhelmed by the movement and quality of France's attacking substitutes, conceding four times in a remarkable 14-minute spell.

Doué And Cherki Make Their Impact Count

Olise was the headline performer, but France's comeback was built on an outstanding contribution from the other substitutes.

Doué levelled the match in the 77th minute with a low left-footed finish from the edge of the area. Cherki then put France ahead four minutes later, finishing after Olise's cross had created the opportunity.

The sequence demonstrated the depth available to Zidane and showed how effectively the manager's substitutions altered the rhythm of the contest.

France Continue To Strengthen Their Position

The victory moved France to the top of Nations League Group A1 with 10 points, three ahead of Italy and four clear of Belgium. Turkey remain bottom after losing all four of their matches.

It was an important response from France after they had been held to a 1–1 draw by Italy in Zidane's previous home match. Olise had scored in that game as well, but France were unable to hold on to their advantage.

The latest result therefore restored momentum and strengthened confidence around Zidane's early tenure.

Zidane Still Sees Room For Improvement

Despite the emphatic scoreline, Zidane was not suggesting that France's problems had disappeared.

The manager identified their lack of presence in the final 25 to 30 metres as an area that still needs improvement, particularly when opponents defend in a deep block. He believes France must get more players into the penalty area to make better use of their possession and attacking opportunities.

That assessment could prove important as Zidane continues to shape the side. The comeback against Belgium showed France possess the quality to change matches from the bench, while Olise's performance offered another indication of the attacking talent available to the new manager.

For now, however, Zidane can celebrate an impressive turnaround and his first home victory. France showed character after falling behind, Olise produced a sensational cameo, and the 4–1 result leaves the new era under Zidane looking increasingly promising.