In the 1/8 finals of the European Championship on July 2, France advanced to the quarterfinals with a delicate but crucial victory, defeating a strong Belgium team, which ended with a score of 1-0, full of tactical battles and individual performances of players, especially the core player of the French team, N'Golo Kante, whose performance not only left a deep mark on defense, but also on attack.
Belgium used a counter-attacking strategy in this game, pinning almost all their hopes on defending their own half, and the tactical layout and individual ability of the French team clearly prevailed, and the French team far exceeded Belgium in possession and had far more shots on goal throughout the game, but in the end it was through a mistake by the opponent to win.
The turning point of the game came in the second half, when N'Golo Kante broke the ball in midfield and quickly switched attacks, and his precise pass eventually led to an own goal by Belgium's Vertonghen, which was not only a technical highlight, but also a reflection of N'Golo Kante's intelligence and calmness, without which the game might have remained deadlocked.
N'Golo Kante's stats were also impressive, with 68 touches of the ball and a 95 per cent pass completion rate, as well as two key passes and a number of effective tackles and interceptions, making him a key figure in the game everywhere on the pitch.
It is worth mentioning that N'Golo Kante's performance is no accident, as he has been unbeaten in 12 consecutive games since his participation in the European Championships, an achievement that surpasses legendary midfielder Xavi to become the player with the most consecutive games in the history of the European Championships, which not only proves N'Golo Kante's consistency, but also underlines his importance in international competition.
France's victory showed their depth of squad strength and tactical flexibility, with the decision of France manager Didier Deschamps to send on N'Golo Kante, who is 33 years old and moved to the Saudi league last summer, but his performances are still dynamic and decisive, refuting all speculation that he is "past his prime".
Every game in the world of football has the potential to write new history, and N'Golo Kante and France proved once again their quality and experience in this crucial European Championship clash that was not only a victory for tactical execution, but also for the spirit and technical quality of the players.
The match was an all-round test of strategy, technique and mental quality, with the winners France showing their dominance on the international stage, every detail of the game is worth savoring, and every statistic is the best proof of the performance of the players and the team, and as the French team enter the knockout stage of the European Championship again, expect more exciting performances from them.