Answer in brief
Introduced in the 77th minute, Michael Olise settled the Brussels match in the 88th. France have six points and two clean sheets before the October 2 meeting with Italy.
An 88th-minute intervention changes the group
France beat Belgium 1–0 in Brussels on September 28, with substitute Michael Olise deciding the Nations League match in the 88th minute. His solo finish turned a game still level near the end into France’s second straight away victory. After the earlier 1–0 win in Türkiye, Zinedine Zidane’s side have six points and two clean sheets. Their next test is Italy at home on October 2.
This is a narrow result with a substantial early consequence. France are three points ahead of Belgium and Italy in Group A1 after two completed rounds. Belgium had begun by winning 2–0 in Italy, so the Brussels fixture offered France an immediate comparison with another successful starter. The late goal leaves France with the points; it does not erase the competitive match that preceded it.
The bench supplied the decisive action
Bayern’s official account places Olise’s introduction in the 77th minute. It describes the forward winning possession in his own half, advancing across a large section of the pitch and finishing with a low shot. UEFA independently records a winding run from halfway and the late finish. The two reports establish a transition from recovered possession to a winning goal, without requiring an invented running speed or distance measurement.
The substitution is central to understanding the result. Olise was not simply the final touch on a long-established lead: he entered a level contest and supplied the action that separated the teams. Our interpretation is that the episode shows the value of preserving an attacking option for the closing stages. It cannot by itself establish a permanent starting hierarchy or quantify the effect of every substitution.
France threatened before the winner arrived
UEFA notes that Désiré Doué struck the crossbar before the interval and Lucas Da Cunha hit the base of a post in the second half. It also identifies Dodi Lukébakio as Belgium’s closest threat. Those details give the score some texture: France’s goal came late, but their opportunities were not confined to the single decisive run.
Woodwork incidents are documented events, rather than a substitute for a chance-quality model. They show why a viewer should look beyond the final score when assessing how the game developed. A 1–0 margin can include pressure, missed openings and a credible opponent. The available official narrative supports that reading here, while leaving any exact expected-goals comparison outside this report’s verified evidence.
Two rounds of results, not a finished contest
The table uses UEFA’s completed Group A1 scorelines from September 25 and 28. Points and goal totals are editorial additions across those results. France’s maximum points stand alongside a modest total of two goals scored. Their early strength is converting both matches into wins while conceding nothing, rather than matching Italy’s four-goal attacking total.
Belgium and Italy each have one victory and one defeat. Italy’s 4–1 win in Türkiye restored their position after losing to Belgium and makes the next France fixture more consequential. The group still has four matches per team to play. The first two rounds define the current advantage, but cannot settle qualification or the final order.
| Team | Matches | Goals for / against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| France | 2 | 2 / 0 | 6 |
| Belgium | 2 | 2 / 1 | 3 |
| Italy | 2 | 4 / 3 | 3 |
| Türkiye | 2 | 1 / 5 | 0 |
Italy and a quick Belgian return come next
UEFA lists France against Italy on October 2 and France against Belgium on October 5. The return comes only a week after Brussels, which gives both coaches a recent and direct reference for preparation. France can build on their advantage; Belgium can revisit how they defended the closing stages and how to convert their own threatening moments.
For the next matches, watch the choices around the front line and the timing of attacking changes. That is a concrete question raised by Olise’s winning intervention, not a forecast that the same action will happen again. As of October 1, the confirmed outcome is a completed French victory in Belgium and six points in the group. Future selections, scorelines and qualification decisions remain open.
Questions and answers
Who scored the winner against Belgium?
Michael Olise scored in the 88th minute of France’s 1–0 away victory on September 28, 2026. UEFA and his club Bayern independently describe the decisive solo run.
Did Olise start the match in Brussels?
Bayern’s report says Zinedine Zidane introduced him in the 77th minute. He scored before the end of regulation time, providing a decisive contribution from the bench.
What are France’s next Nations League fixtures?
UEFA schedules France against Italy for October 2 and France against Belgium for October 5. Both are home fixtures and neither had been played by the October 1 evidence cutoff.