France Edges Belgium 1-0 in Tense Euro 2024 Round of 16 Clash In a thrilling round of 16 encounter at the Allianz Arena in Munich, France emerged victorious over Belgium by a narrow margin of 1-0. The match began with both teams trading possession and creating chances. Belgium came close through Romelu Lukaku, but his shot was well-saved by French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris. France responded with a slick move that culminated in a shot from Kylian Mbappé, but Thibaut Courtois was equal to the task. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when Mbappé found himself in space on the left wing. He danced past two Belgian defenders and fired a low cross into the box, where Olivier Giroud was waiting to tap home from close range. Belgium pressed forward in search of an equalizer, but France’s defense stood firm. Lukaku had another chance to level the scores, but his header was nodded off the line by Lucas Hernandez. As the game entered its final minutes, Belgium threw caution to the wind and committed more players forward. However, France remained disciplined and saw out the victory with relative ease. The win sends France through to the quarterfinals, where they will face either Spain or Portugal. Belgium, on the other hand, will be left to rue their missed opportunities and exit the tournament with their heads held high. “It was a tough game, but I’m proud of my players for showing great resilience and determination,” said France coach Didier Deschamps after the match. “We have a lot of quality in this team, and I believe we can go all the way.” Belgium coach Roberto Martinez acknowledged his team’s disappointment but praised their effort. “We played well, but unfortunately we couldn’t find a goal. France were clinical in their finishing, and they deserve the win,” he said.France Edges Belgium in Round of 16, Advances to QuartersFrance Edges Belgium in Round of 16, Advances to Quarters France secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in the round of 16 of Euro 2024, booking their spot in the quarter-finals. Substitute Randal Kolo Muani’s deflected shot in the 85th minute, credited as an own goal by Jan Vertonghen, broke the deadlock and handed France a deserved win. France will now face Portugal in Hamburg on Friday. Despite controlling the match, France struggled to capitalize on their chances. The breakthrough came from a combination of passes that created space for Kolo Muani to shoot. His effort was deflected by Vertonghen, catching goalkeeper Koen Casteels off guard. “We enjoyed possession and had more chances,” said France coach Didier Deschamps. “We have to savor this great achievement.” Both France and Belgium entered the knockout stage after unimpressive group stage draws. Belgium’s cautious approach, featuring Kevin de Bruyne dropping deep, slowed the pace of the game. France’s best first-half opportunity fell to Marcus Thuram, but his header went wide. Aurelien Tchouameni and Kylian Mbappé also had chances after the break, while Belgium forced saves from Mike Maignan. France’s finishing woes continued as William Saliba and Mbappé missed before Kolo Muani’s winner. The game exposed France’s lack of open-play goals, with two own goals and Mbappé’s penalty accounting for their only tallies. Belgium’s defensive strategy left them vulnerable, and their exit was disappointing. France’s quarterfinal clash with Portugal promises to be an exciting affair, while Belgium must now reflect on a failed defensive approach.France secured their place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Belgium in the round of 16. The match was a close encounter, with both sides having chances to score. However, it was France who took the lead in the 65th minute when Karim Benzema scored a penalty. Belgium pushed for an equalizer, but France held on to their lead to secure the win. The result means that France will now face Spain in the quarter-finals, while Belgium’s tournament is over.