France produced a stunning late comeback to defeat Belgium 4-1 in the Nations League on Monday, October 5, as head coach Zinedine Zidane celebrated his first home victory with the national team.

France were trailing until the 77th minute before substitutes Désiré Doué, Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise turned the match around with four goals in just 14 minutes. Olise scored twice to cap an impressive performance and help France strengthen their position at the top of Group A1.

“Tonight, this is soccer, this is what we love,” Zidane said after the match. He acknowledged France's difficulties in the first half but praised the team's response after the break.

Belgium took the lead in the 35th minute when Dodi Lukébakio raced onto a superb long pass from Romeo Lavia, beat the offside trap and fired past debutant goalkeeper Guillaume Restes.

France struggled to find an equaliser before Doué levelled the score in the 77th minute with a low finish into the bottom-right corner. Four minutes later, Cherki put France ahead when his shot deflected off Belgium goalkeeper Maarten Vandevoordt and into the net.

Olise then scored twice in three minutes to complete the comeback and seal a convincing victory for the hosts.

Zidane praised the impact of his substitutes but stressed that the win reflected a collective effort from the entire squad.

“We knew the substitutes could change the game because they are high-quality players,” he said, adding that every player had contributed during the team's recent run of matches.

Olise also credited the coach's ideas and the players' commitment to carrying them out. He said the team intended to maintain the same approach in their upcoming fixtures.

The victory strengthened France's grip on Group A1, leaving them three points ahead of second-placed Italy, who defeated Türkiye 3-1. Belgium remain third, four points behind France, while Türkiye have yet to earn a point.

France will conclude their group campaign in November with matches against Italy and Türkiye. The top two teams in each group will qualify for next year's quarterfinals.

Mbappé Sparks Debate After Cycling Despite Mourinho's Warning

Kylian Mbappé has drawn attention after sharing a video of himself riding a bicycle, days after Real Madrid coach José Mourinho warned that professional footballers should avoid cycling because of the risk of injury.

The French forward, who is currently recovering from a knee injury sustained while playing for France during the international break, posted a short video on his Instagram story on Sunday. Wearing a helmet and smiling, Mbappé was seen cycling along what appeared to be a country road.

The clip quickly attracted attention in the French media, with some interpreting it as a response to criticism surrounding Mourinho's comments about the lifestyle restrictions professional footballers should follow.

Last month, Mourinho described cycling as one of several activities players should avoid to reduce the risk of injuries that could affect their availability for matches.

“You are a football player 24 hours a day,” Mourinho said during an appearance on the Bet It Drives show. He explained that players must carefully manage their diet, sleep, personal lives and recreational activities.

He specifically warned that a cycling accident could leave a player unavailable for several matches or even cause a serious injury.

Mbappé suffered a hyperextension of his left knee during France's match against Türkiye on September 25 and was subsequently released from the national squad.

His availability for Real Madrid's upcoming LaLiga match against Villarreal remains uncertain, although he is expected to have a chance of recovering in time for the highly anticipated El Clásico against Barcelona on October 25.

Despite the injury setback, Mbappé has made an impressive start to the domestic season, scoring seven goals in seven league appearances for Real Madrid.

However, Madrid have already fallen six points behind Barcelona in the league standings, increasing the pressure on the team as they prepare for a demanding run of fixtures.

Mbappé also faced criticism in the Spanish media last season after being photographed on holiday aboard a yacht while recovering from a hamstring injury.

His latest cycling video has once again raised questions about how elite footballers balance their personal lives with the demands of professional football, particularly when recovering from injuries.