July 1st 2024.
In a highly anticipated match between France and Belgium at Euro 2024, Arsenal's William Saliba put on a stellar performance, successfully containing Romelu Lukaku and leading his team to victory. Although the French team wasn't at their best, they managed to secure their spot in the quarter finals thanks to a late goal from Randal Kolo Muani, with an assist from Jan Vertonghen's deflection.
Saliba's performance did not go unnoticed, as he was praised for his dominant display against Lukaku. The Chelsea striker, who felt he was fouled by Saliba in the lead-up to France's winning goal, only managed to have 20 touches throughout the game and couldn't find the back of the net. Even commentator Darren Fletcher couldn't help but point out Saliba's physicality, jokingly saying that he must have had Lukaku hidden in his shorts' pockets.
Despite Lukaku's struggles against Saliba, Belgium's head coach Domenico Tedesco stood by his decision to keep the 31-year-old on the pitch, stating his confidence in Lukaku's abilities as a complete attacker. However, Tedesco couldn't deny that Lukaku had a difficult tournament, failing to score a single goal despite being a top scorer in the group stage.
On the other hand, France's head coach Didier Deschamps praised his team's solid defensive display, with right-back Jules Kounde being named Player of the Match. Deschamps highlighted the importance of defensive strength at this level of competition, but also commended Kounde for his offensive contributions and confidence on the field. The coach also took pride in the fact that his team is composed of high-level players from top clubs such as Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern, and AC Milan.
The victory against Belgium was a major boost for France, as they continue on in the tournament with confidence and a strong defensive foundation. Meanwhile, Arsenal fans can also take pride in Saliba's standout performance and hope for more impressive displays from the young centre-back in the future.
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