France-Belgium is a classic, which in many ways left its mark on football.
During their history, the Blues have faced Belgium 74 times, making them the privileged opponent of the France team.
Symbol of a particular poster in the microcosm of football, the Belgians have a better balance sheet than the Blues.
30 victories for the Red Devils against 25 for the French team.
On the other hand, the Tricolores have the advantage on the matches at stake, with six victories to three.
To discover
Nations League: schedule and results
June 5, 1938, France Belgium 3-1, Round of 16 of the World Cup
In 1938, France organized its first World Cup. In this third edition of the World Cup, the competition begins in the round of 16. To launch hostilities, France faces Belgium at the Olympic stadium Yves-du-Manoir, in Colombes, in front of 30,000 spectators, including the founders of the World Cup, Jules Rimet and Henri Delaunney. This fratricidal meeting corresponds to the first clash in a high-stakes match between Belgium and France, after having played 32 friendlies since 1904. The Blues started off with a bang. Following a hand fault by Belgian goalkeeper Arnold Badjou, Emile Veinante follows well and opens the scoring. France doubled the bet a few minutes later on a realization of Jean Nicolas. But the Belgians are not giving up,and reduce the mark through Henri Isemborghs just before the break. The protected Gaston Barreau did not give in to the pressure, and regained a comfortable advantage thanks to the goal of Nicolas, top scorer in Division 1 that season. The Blues win 3-1. Despite the support of a whole country, France lost in the next round against the defending champion, Italy.
June 16, 1984, France 5-0 Belgium, Euro group stage
Driven by the famous magic square Tigana-Platini-Fernandez-Giresse, the Blues are setting great ambitions in this Euro organized at home. After the disillusionment suffered in Seville, in 1982 against the FRG in the semi-final of the World Cup (3-3 ap, 5 tab 4), the team coached by Michel Hidalgo wants to lift its first international trophy. After a tense but successful first against Denmark (1-0), Michel Platini's teammates face Belgium, finalist of Euro 1980. A very fine Belgian generation cut off from many executives, following the scandal of the rigged match between Standard and Waterschei which deprives Gerets, Meeuws, Plessers or even Preud'Homme. In front of 51,000 spectators at the Beaujoire, Michel Platini scored a hat-trick and took the opportunity to beat the record for goals in the French team, held by Just Fontaine. At the end ofA high class action with Tigana, Giresse also finds the net on a dive. Upon receiving a center, Luis Fernandez also deceives Pfaff's vigilance. A meeting that has remained engraved in the memory of the former coach of PSG.
Him (Vercauteren), Enzo Scifo, they were boys that I admired, an extraordinary generation.
But in this match, everything we tried, we succeeded.
We were taking risks.
It was a festival.
Luis Fernandez
After this offensive festival, the Blues continue their momentum, and win their first international competition by beating Spain in the final (2-0).
With a reorganized team, the Belgians do not manage to pass the hens.
June 28, 1986, France-Belgium 4-2, match for 3rd place
Crowned with their title of European champion, the Habs are among the favorites at the World Cup 86, in Brazil. Victorious of the host country in the quarter-finals, described as "
match of the century
" (1-1, 4-3 tab), the Blues do not take their revenge on the FRG in the semi-final, and bow again to this competition stage (0-2). For its part, Belgium shines at this World Cup, and is brought out in the same round as France, by the Argentina of Diego Maradona, future winner of the World Cup. The neighbors therefore find themselves in the symbolic match for third place. For this match "
without stake
", Henri Michel is doing turnover.
After the early opening of the Belgians, Jean-Marc Ferreri put the two teams back on an equal footing on a long shot in the 27th minute of play. Just before the break, Jean-Pierre Papin gave the French back the advantage.
The former OM striker will also be the author of an anthology goal six years later against Belgium, in a friendly with twists (3-3).
In the second act, Claesen equalizes and sends the two teams into extra time.
The Blues take advantage of a lack of realism shouting from the Belgians to punish their opponent thanks to the achievements of Genghini and Amoros.
June 7, 2015, France-Belgium 3-4, friendly match
At the Stade de France, the Blues challenge the Belgians, to gauge themselves against a large engine, before the start of the Euro. A special meeting since Eden Hazard,
the
favorite "
adopted child
" of Lille, takes on the captain's armband of Belgium for the first time. Under the leadership of a very inspired Fellaini, Belgium returned to the locker room with two goals in advance. In the second half, Nainggolan, man of the match, highlights his quality of long shot and deceives Hugo Lloris. In the spans of the stadium, the Belgian supporters take the opportunity to chamber the French "
We are at home
", "
And one, and two, and three zeros
".
Despite the reduction in Valbuena's score, Hazard widened the gap again.
At the end of the meeting, Didier Deschamps brings new blood, with the entries of Fekir and Ntep.
A choice that paid off, since the Rennais served the Lyonnais, who took the opportunity to score his first goal in Blue.
In additional time, Dimitri Payet reduced the score but the fate of the match was sealed.
Despite a late burst of pride, France bowed (3-4) to the offensive armada of the Belgians.
A warning signal for Didier Deschamps, one year from the launch of the Euro.
July 10, 2018, France-Belgium 1-0, World Cup semi-final
The enemy brothers meet at the foot of the summit. Winners respectively of Uruguay and Brazil in the previous round, France and Belgium endorse favorite status in the last four. In Saint Petersburg, this encounter is marked by a style opposition which reaches its climax in certain sequences. France defends fairly low, with a very compact and structured block, and is formidable in rapid transitions. The Belgians develop a possession game and multiply the attacks placed. In the first half, Hugo Lloris, author of a great World Cup, intervenes brilliantly against Alderweireld. It was not until the 40th minute to see the Blues really put Thibaut Courtois in difficulty, on an attempt by Pavard. Back from the locker room, on a perfectly executed corner from Antoine Griezmann,Samuel Umtiti takes the best of Fellaini and gives the advantage to the Blues. Euphoric, the Barcelona defender inscribes this moment in the legend, embellished with a celebration that will go around the world with his singular approach. Despite a complicated end to the game, the French held on and got their ticket to the final. The Belgians, disappointed, will share their bitterness after the meeting.