Olise inspires France comeback as Belgium beaten 4-1 in Nations League

Michael Olise scored twice as substitutes turned the game for France, who came from behind to beat Belgium 4-1 in the Uefa Nations League at the Stade de France on Monday night.

Dodi Lukebakio's strike in the 35th minute had Belgium on course for a first competitive win over France since 1981, but Zinedine Zidane turned to a star-studded bench and the hosts struck four times in the final 13 minutes.

Désiré Doué equalised in the 77th minute with a low shot from the edge of the box, and Olise's pull-back from the byline set up Rayan Cherki for the lead four minutes later, SuperSport reports.

Olise then scored in the 88th minute and again in stoppage time. All four goals came from substitutes, and the win kept Zidane unbeaten as France coach.

Olise said the first half had been difficult but that the team kept going and was happy with the way it finished. The Bayern Munich winger has scored four times in his last three matches for France despite starting only one of them, and said that Zidane brings his own ideas and the players follow him.

France lead Group A1 by three points from Italy, with Belgium a point further back. Zidane's side finish their group campaign next month with a trip to Italy and a home game against Turkey.

Italy moved into second place with a 3-1 win over Turkey in Bologna. Gianluca Scamacca put the hosts ahead in the 26th minute and Aral Simsir equalised just after the hour, but goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Pio Esposito sealed the win, according to Uefa. Italy had beaten Turkey 4-1 in Bursa last week.

Roberto Mancini, who is in his second spell as Italy coach with a side that has failed to qualify for the last three World Cups, said there was fatigue all round and the team struggled a little, but that it did well to score and then score again straight after Turkey's equaliser. He added that Italy would probably have to fight for second place when they travel to Belgium next month.

Elsewhere, Northern Ireland remain top of Group B2 after a 0-0 draw with Georgia in Belfast, where Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili saved a late Isaac Price penalty. Hungary are a point behind after a 2-1 win over Ukraine in a match played in Slovakia.

Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres scored for the seventh Nations League game in a row to give Sweden a 1-0 win in Romania, leaving Graham Potter's side two points clear in Group B4 of Bosnia and Herzegovina, who beat Poland 1-0. Marcus Edwards scored a stoppage-time winner as Cyprus beat Latvia 2-1 in Group C2, while leaders Montenegro and Armenia drew 0-0.

Sources: SuperSport (AFP), ESPN & Uefa