France snatch late winner in Belgium, Italy thrash Turkey 4-1 away

Sept 28 : France substitute Michael Olise scored two minutes from time as the visitors snatched a late 1-0 win against Belgium in the Nations League on Monday, while Italy returned to winning ways with a thumping 4-1 away triumph over Turkey.

Fortunes ebbed and flowed in Brussels but Olise kept up France coach Zinedine Zidane’s winning start to his new job with a surging run from midway inside the Belgian half before a superb finish to win the Group A1 fixture.

France were without captain Kylian Mbappe and Zidane made nine changes to the side that edged Turkey 1-0 last week but it was after bringing on the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Rayan Cherki and Olise that the French turned the game in their favour.

“We played a good game, we deserved to win, and we are all relieved by Michael’s goal," said France debutant Lucas da Cunha. "My performance? The coach gave me his full confidence and told me to express myself, to do what I do at club level. I felt good on the pitch."

Desire Doue was a persistent danger as he took on the home defence and twice hit the woodwork but Belgium will rue the opportunities they spurned with Mika Godts outstanding for them.

"It is a pity, especially because the goal came so late. We created chances ourselves, looked dangerous, and gave very little away. A draw would have been a fairer result," said Belgium centre back Brandon Mechele.

Italy lost last Friday’s opening fixture of their Nations League campaign 2-0 at home to Belgium in a false start for Roberto Mancini on his return to the coaching job, but in the rain in Bursa they looked a very different outfit.

Alessandro Bastoni gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead from a corner and 13 minutes later Davide Frattesi pounced on a rebound after Michael