Olise France win sees France beat Belgium 4-1 after a stunning late comeback, with Michael Olise scoring twice in Zidane’s first home victory

Michael Olise inspired France to a dramatic 4-1 victory over Belgium at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on Monday, October 5, 2026, as France manager Zinedine Zidane secured his first home win and his side strengthened their position at the top of UEFA Nations League Group A1.

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Belgium appeared set to leave Paris with a significant result after Dodi Lukébakio gave the visitors the lead in the 35th minute.

France, however, produced a remarkable late response, scoring four times in the final 14 minutes to turn a difficult evening into an emphatic victory.

The decisive change came from Zidane’s bench. Désiré Doué restored parity in the 77th minute before Rayan Cherki put France ahead four minutes later after Olise created the opening.

Olise then took centre stage. The Bayern Munich winger scored France’s third in the 88th minute before adding a fourth in stoppage time, completing a stunning individual contribution after entering the match as a substitute.

The turnaround was particularly striking because Belgium had largely contained France before the final quarter of the match. Roméo Lavia’s excellent pass released Lukébakio behind the French defence, and the forward kept his composure to beat debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.

Restes and Manchester United defender Leny Yoro were among the players making their France debuts, with Zidane making 10 changes to the team that had drawn 1-1 with Italy three days earlier.

Ousmane Dembélé retained his place and wore the captain’s armband in the continued absence of the injured Kylian Mbappé.

France struggled to find a breakthrough for much of the match, with Belgium’s defensive organisation frustrating the hosts.

Maarten Vandevoordt, also making his Belgium debut, made important saves before Doué finally broke through with a low shot from the edge of the area.

Olise’s arrival changed the rhythm of the contest. His run and cutback created Cherki’s goal, while his two finishes completed a breathtaking spell in which France scored four times in 14 minutes.

UEFA also highlighted Cherki’s goal as the moment that turned the match decisively in France’s favour.

Olise’s influence has now become one of the defining features of Zidane’s early tenure.

The 24-year-old had already scored the winner when France defeated Belgium 1-0 in Brussels on September 28, meaning he has now scored in both meetings between the sides during this Nations League window.

Speaking after Monday’s match, Olise acknowledged that France had needed patience against Belgium’s deep defensive shape.

“The first half was difficult, as facing deep defences is always hard. We kept up the pressure and the ending was good, so we are happy.”

Olise also credited the collective work under Zidane, rather than presenting his own contribution as a solo achievement.

“It is also about the team. He puts forward ideas, and we follow them. We will carry on in this way.”

Zidane’s decision to rotate heavily ultimately paid off. The former France captain, who returned to international management after the 2026 World Cup, has now remained unbeaten through his first four matches in charge.

France have recorded three victories and one draw during that opening run.

The result also strengthened France’s position in Group A1. France moved to 10 points from four matches, three points clear of Italy, while Belgium remained on six points.

Italy kept the pressure on the leaders by defeating Türkiye 3-1 in Bologna on the same night.

France’s recent results against Belgium add another layer to the rivalry. France won 1-0 in Brussels on September 28 through Olise’s late strike, before drawing 1-1 with Italy on October 2 after Olise had initially put the French ahead with a superb free-kick.

For Belgium, the defeat was a painful conclusion to a match in which the visitors had competed strongly for long periods.

Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans were unavailable through suspension, yet Belgium still managed to unsettle a heavily rotated French side and lead for more than 40 minutes.

France ultimately had the greater depth to call upon. Zidane’s substitutions of Doué, Cherki and Olise transformed the contest, giving the home side an explosive finish that Belgium could not contain.

The victory leaves France in a strong position as the Nations League league phase continues, while Olise’s latest performance further underlines his growing importance to Zidane’s team.

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For a France side still adapting to a new era, the late comeback offered both three valuable points and a powerful reminder of the attacking options available from the bench.