Recap: Dembélé, Kolo Muani Fuel France to Win vs. Belgium

After losing to Italy on Matchday 1, France bounced back with a 2-0 win over Belgium at Groupama Stadium on Matchday 2 of the UEFA Nations League.

Various players with ties to Ligue 1 were in both sides' starting 11 in this contest. Former Stade Rennais player Arthur Theate and former Stade de Reims standout Wout Faes played defense for Belgium.

In the midfield, there were more players with connections to Ligue 1 as former Monaco standout Youri Tielemans, ex-LOSC Lille player Amadou Onana, and former Stade Rennais' Jérémy Doku were in the lineup. Ex-RC Lens forward Loïs Openda occupied the No. 9 role for Belgium in this match.

As for France, there were plenty of players with Ligue 1 connections, with former Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan between the pipes. On defense, former Saint-Étienne defender William Saliba was in the starting 11, while in the midfield, there's ex-Toulouse FC's Manu Koné and former Olympique de Marseille ace Mattéo Guendouzi.

Didier Deschamps went with Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembélé and Randal Kolo Muani in the attack.

The French side overwhelmed Belgium in the first half with 12 total shots and, in the 29th minute, opened the scoring thanks to a goal from Kolo Muani for a 1-0 lead. Les Bleus again recorded double-digit shots in the second half with 13 and Dembélé found the back of the net in the 57th minute for the insurance goal.

Belgium had nine total shots but couldn't score with Maignan making four saves to register the clean sheet and France walking away with a 2-0 win.

Following two matchdays in the Nations League, the 2022 FIFA World Cup runner-up sit in second place behind Italy. The next match for France in the competition will come on Oct. 10 when they face Israel at Bozsik Aréna.

Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

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