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Agence France-Presse

Jan Vertonghen’s late own goal took France into the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Monday as they edged Belgium 1-0 in a tense tie in Düsseldorf.
France had dominated the last-16 clash but their profligate finishing looked set to force extra time until they finally found a way through with five minutes left.
Substitute Randal Kolo Muani collected the ball inside the Belgian penalty area and hit a shot that was going wide until a deflection off the unfortunate Vertonghen took it past goalkeeper Koen Casteels.

The lucky break sent the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie in Hamburg on Friday as they remain on course to become European champions for the third time.
France are yet to score from open play in four matches at the tournament – captain Kylian Mbappé netted once from a penalty against Poland, while their other two goals came from opposition defenders.
Crucially, however, they are rock solid in defence, having conceded only one goal, from a penalty, so far.
Their back line was outstanding against Romelu Lukaku and his fellow attackers, and Belgium bow out after what will go down as a disappointing tournament for them.
Both of these sides were looking for revenge, in Belgium’s case for their 1-0 defeat against France in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, a result that still hurts six years on.

France, meanwhile, had a point to prove at the Euros after going out in the last 16 three years ago on penalties to Switzerland, a deeply disappointing result in between runs to consecutive World Cup finals.
The French were widely seen as the favourites to win this tournament before arriving in Germany, but they were below par during the group phase.
The broken nose suffered by Mbappe in their opening game against Austria did not help, and the uncertain form of Antoine Griezmann has been a problem too.
Griezmann was dropped for the last group match against Poland but returned here in one of two changes, with Marcus Thuram also coming in as wingers Ousmane Dembele and Bradley Barcola made way.

Meanwhile Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco’s reaction to his own side’s unconvincing displays in the group stage was striking.
Yannick Carrasco and Lois Openda were given starts to provide as much attacking threat as possible in support of Lukaku, while skipper Kevin De Bruyne played a more withdrawn role.
The hope, for the neutrals at least, was that so much attacking talent would lead to an open game full of goals, but the reality was rather different.
Belgium were happy to sit back and thwart France, and did not test opposition goalkeeper Mike Maignan at all in the first half.
France had lots of the ball, yet often looked untidy, imprecise and rather flat, with Griezmann appearing lost on the right wing.

But they had chances in the first half, with Thuram heading just wide from Jules Kounde’s inviting cross just after the half-hour mark and Aurelien Tchouameni twice firing off-target.
Real Madrid midfielder Tchouameni then tested Casteels with a deflected long-range strike as France upped their game at the beginning of the second half.
Mbappe accelerated inside and smashed a shot just over, and there was a sense a goal might be coming.
The breakthrough almost came for Belgium an hour in as William Saliba lost possession on halfway and De Bruyne released Carrasco, who was about to pull the trigger when Theo Hernandez arrived to make a brilliant saving block.
Maignan finally had to make a save 20 minutes from the end of normal time, to keep out a drive from Lukaku, and was called into action again to deny De Bruyne.
It was becoming clear that one goal would decide the contest, and France got it in the 85th minute as N’Golo Kante fed Kolo Muani, and his shot went in off Vertonghen to take Les Bleus through.


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Euro 2024

Euro 2024: Belgium own goal breaks tie, sending France into quarter-finals

France’s Kylian Mbappe celebrates after beating Belgium in Dusseldorf, Germany on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Belgium supporters cheer their team after losing to France on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Belgium’s Kevin de Bruyne reacts after losing to France in Düsseldorf on Monday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Randal Kolo Muani of France fights for the ball with Belgium’s Wout Faes, right, in Düsseldorf, Germany on Monday. Photo: AP

France fans celebrate after the match in Düsseldorf on Monday. Photo: Reuters 

Euro 2024: Spain come from behind to thrash Georgia and set up quarter-final with Germany

Spain’s Nico Williams celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal against Georgia at the Euro 2024 football tournament in Cologne, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP

Georgia’s Guram Kashia fails to block Spain’s Nico Williams, left, from scoring his side’s third goal past Georgia’s goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. Photo: AP

Spanish fans react at the end of the Euro 2024 match against Georgia at the Cologne Stadium in Cologne, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fights for the ball against Spain’s Rodri in Cologne, Germany on Sunday. Photo: AP

Euro 2024: Germany weather storm in last 16, holders Italy knocked out by Switzerland

Germany’s players celebrate with Kai Havertz after he opened the scoring in their last-16 victory over Denmark. Photo: AP

Germany’s last-16 clash with Denmark was temporarily halted because of a storm which saw streams of rainwater fall from the stadium roof. Photo: AP

Switzerland’s joy is Italy’s despair as the holders bow out in the last-16 stage at Euro 2024. Photo: AFP

Euro 2024: guide to knockout stage as England avoid France, Germany until the final

Georgia’s players celebrate after their historic win over Portugal to reach the Euros knock-out phase for the first time. Photo: AP

Euro 2024: Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane rescue England from shock last-16 exit to Slovakia

Jude Bellingham (left) and Harry Kane (centre) celebrate England’s equaliser at the Arena AufSchalke. Photo: AFP

Harry Kane scores England’s second goal against Slovakia just one minute into extra-time. Photo: Reuters 

England manager Gareth Southgate celebrates with Harry Kane after the match. Photo: Reuters

Slovakia fans after their loss to England on Sunday. Photo: Reuters 

England fans cheer on their team on Sunday. Photo: AFP

Sport

Football

Lucky break sends the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie on Friday as they remain on course to become European champions for a third time


Lucky break sends the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie on Friday as they remain on course to become European champions for a third time.


France

Germany

Poland

Belgium

Euro 2024: Belgium own goal breaks tie, sending France into quarter-finals

.css-1mniedq{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;}Lucky break sends the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie on Friday as they remain on course to become European champions for a third time

Lucky break sends the 2022 World Cup runners-up into a last-eight tie on Friday as they remain on course to become European champions for a third time