France beat Belgium in their latest match, with Zinedine Zidane's team earning praise for both the result and the manner of the performance, according to Libération. The French outlet framed the win as a celebration of joyful, free-flowing play under Zidane.
Libération highlighted Zidane's reaction to a goal scored by Michael Olise, describing the celebration as a moment of visible delight on the touchline. 20 Minutes reported that Zidane said he felt obliged to shoot the ball into the net himself during the celebration, calling the moment already iconic. That detail comes from 20 Minutes' account of the goal and the scenes that followed it.
Coverage abroad was equally warm. L'Équipe noted that the foreign press saluted the victory, quoting a line that everything Zizou touches turns to gold. Le Monde focused on the promise shown by the newer faces in the French squad working under Zidane, suggesting the win offered a look at the team's direction.
Not everyone was charmed. Foot Mercato reported that Belgium were left sickened by France's performance, a reminder that the same display read very differently on the losing side.
The result adds to the early picture of Zidane's France, with attention now turning to how the newer players settle into the side and whether the fluency on show in Belgium carries into the next round of matches.
