Rhino: Agencies – France continued to capitalize on their opponents’ gifts to advance to the last eight of Euro 2024 in Germany after beating Belgium by a goal on Monday evening in the round of 16.

Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen scored the only goal for France as the Dukes progressed to await the winner of the Portugal v Slovenia match.

The French team pressed hard to score an early goal and threatened the Belgian goal with several shots by Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Aurelien Tchameni, but they lacked the necessary accuracy.

Belgium’s attempts were few and far between, with Jérémie Duco’s low shot being saved by French goalkeeper Mike Mannion, who also cleared Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick with his foot.

The French pressure paid off with a timely goal minutes after coming on as a substitute, as Randal Colo-Moani deflected a Belgian defender’s shot into the back of the net, giving the home side their second self-goal of the Euros after beating Austria by another gift in the first round.

Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco played a number of attacking cards in the final minutes, but time ran out and the Italian coach lost his bet on a defensive plan, while the French snatched a deserved victory after almost total domination.