In the round of 16 of the Euros, France defeated Belgium 1-0, with the lone goal coming from an unfortunate own goal by Belgian central defender Jan Vertonghen. Sitting
It’s worth mentioning that after the French goal, Mbappe ran to Vertonghen to celebrate, a move seen as a clear taunt towards the opponent.
The dramatic turn of events occurred near the end of the match when Vertonghen accidentally deflected the ball into his own net, giving France the lead. Mbappe promptly approached Vertonghen, celebrating in an provocative manner and exchanging words, which led to a verbal warning from the referee.
Mbappe’s actions were fueled by the tension built up during the game. Previously, Vertonghen had accused Mbappe of diving to win a penalty, a comment that infuriated the young French star, escalating their on-field rivalry, with intervention from the referee required at times. Both players received warnings.
Nonetheless, Vertonghen and his Belgian teammates largely contained Mbappe and other key French players throughout the match, with Mbappe himself experiencing missed opportunities. However, the own goal proved decisive.
The 37-year-old Vertonghen, who has represented Belgium since 2007, with 156 caps and 10 goals, the national team record, was visibly distraught after the own goal. Yet, sportsmanship prevailed – he shook hands with Mbappe after the game, demonstrating the professionalism of a seasoned player.
With this victory, France extended their remarkable streak of reaching the quarterfinals in every major tournament since Euro 2012. They will now face Portugal in the next round, who secured their spot after a hard-fought win over Slovenia.