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Belgium National Football Team
Another frustrating match for Kylian Mbapp. Another underwhelming performance by France at the European Championship. Didier Deschamps isn't concerned his team is into the quarterfinals. It's beautiful, the France coach said after Les Bleus relied on the ninth own-goal scored at Euro 2024 to squeeze past Belgium 1-0 in the round of 16 on Monday. A heavyweight match between neighbors and teams ranked No. 2 (France) and No. 3 (Belgium) failed to live up to its billing, and the nature of the only goal proved to be fitting. Randal Kolo Muani, on as a second-half substitute, turned in the area and sent in a shot in the 85th minute that deflected off Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen and looped over stranded goalkeeper Koen Casteels. I was lucky enough to get my shot on target, he said of his decisive intervention. It was blocked but it went in. We're very, very happy and very, very proud. UEFA thought differently about the destination of Kolo Muani's shot and put it down as an own-goal
Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will lead a rejuvenated Belgium side including a once-retired Alex Witsel at the European Championship next month. De Bruyne and Witsel were on the 25-man list unveiled by coach Domenico Tedesco on Tuesday. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, preparing for the Champions League final, was not. Full back Maxim De Cuyper, who won the Belgian league with Club Brugge last weekend, was the only newcomer. De Bruyne and Witsel are remaining members of the so-called golden generation of Belgian players. While De Bruyne's presence was expected, Witsel's was a surprise after Tedesco dropped him from his first squad last year. Witsel soon after announced his retirement from international soccer and did not play in qualifying. But Tedesco said Witsel's recent showings with Atletico Madrid convinced him the 35-year-old midfielder was the right choice. I have the best feelings with Axel, Tedesco said. Tedesco said Courtois was not ready for Euro 2
For Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco, calling up Romelu Lukaku for a couple of European Championship qualifiers was a no brainer. Even though the striker's season-long loan deal to Roma was only completed on Thursday ending uncertainty over his future and a standoff with Chelsea and Lukaku having not played so far this campaign. Tedesco said he closely followed the developments that led to Lukaku's move at Roma, and that he knew how seriously the striker trained despite the offseason Chelsea row. "I know that he was training. He was training with Chelsea too, of course, but also individually," Tedesco said after including Belgium's record scorer in the 24-man squad. "For us it was not a question to invite him or not, because I think you saw in the last games how important he is. Not just as a player, also for the changing room. He is a leader. He is a top striker, and a top human," Tedesco added. Belgium, which is second in Group F three points behind Austria but with a match in h
Police had to seal off parts of the centre of Brussels, deploy water cannons and fire tear gas to disperse crowds following violence during and after Morocco's 2-0 upset win over Belgium at the World Cup. Dozens of rioters set steps on fire and pelted cars with bricks. Police moved in after one person suffered facial injuries, said Brussels police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere. Brussels mayor Philippe Close urged soccer fans to stay away from the city center and said authorities were doing their utmost to keep order in the streets. Even subway and tram traffic had to be interrupted on police orders. Morocco's victory was a major upset at the World Cup and was enthusiastically celebrated by fans with Moroccan immigrant roots in many Belgian cities. It was not immediately clear how many people were detained during the disturbances.