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Zidane Celebrates Wild as Olise Scores Late Winner for France

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France secured a 1-0 victory over Belgium in a Nations League Group 1 fixture, courtesy of a dramatic late strike from Michael Olise, who found the net in the 88th minute to break the deadlock.

The goal, coming so close to the final whistle, sparked a joyful reaction from coach Zinedine Zidane, who was filmed sprinting along the touchline in celebration as Olise ran towards goal.

Speaking after the match, Zidane described exactly what went through his mind at that moment. "I accompanied him when I saw him set off, I was fully with him," he said, describing how his instinctive dash mirrored Olise's run on the pitch.

The former World Cup winner, now leading Les Bleus as head coach, has been building a reputation for wanting his team to show resilience until the very end of matches.

Reflecting more broadly on the qualities he values in his squad, Zidane suggested that this type of late, decisive intervention is precisely what he wants to see from his players going forward. "That's what I want for my team," he said, underlining his desire for a group capable of finding solutions even when a game seems to be heading for a stalemate.

The result over Belgium represents an important step for France in the Nations League standings, and the manner of the victory — patient, hard-fought, and settled only in the closing minutes — appears to align closely with the identity Zidane is trying to instil in his squad.

For Olise, the goal marks a significant moment in his international career, delivering a decisive contribution for France on the biggest stage. Zidane's visible emotion on the touchline underlined just how much the moment meant, both for the player and for the coach's broader vision of the team.

Vocabulary7 words

Nations League
a football competition between European national teams
strike
a shot that results in a goal
deadlock
a situation where neither side is winning
touchline
the edge line of a football pitch
resilience
the ability to keep trying in difficult moments
instinctive
done without thinking, naturally
stalemate
a situation with no clear winner or progress

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Quiz

1. What broke the deadlock in the France-Belgium match?
2. How did Zidane react when Olise scored?
3. True or False: Zidane said this kind of late goal reflects what he wants from his team.

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Discussion questions

  1. Why do you think late goals often create such strong emotional reactions from coaches?
  2. What qualities do you think make a good national team coach?
  3. How important is mental resilience in sports, compared to physical skill?
  4. Do you think a coach's visible emotions can affect how players perform on the pitch?

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