France vs Belgium. International Match.
Stade De France.
Monday 8 June 2015 09:04, UK
Belgium lived up to their billing as second only to world champions Germany in the FIFA rankings with a 4-3 friendly win over France at the Stade de France in Paris.
The last two meetings of the neighbours ended in goalless draws, with Belgium last beating France in May 2002, when Marc Wilmots scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win against the then world champions.
But there was no shortage of goals on Sunday night as Manchester United's Marouane Fellaini gave Wilmots' side a 2-0 half-time lead, before second-half strikes from Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard appeared to put the result beyond doubt.
Dynamo Moscow's Mathieu Valbuena scored for the home side from the penalty spot on 53 minutes, just before Chelsea's Hazard slotted home from a penalty moments later.
At 4-1 up and with only minutes remaining, the visitors looked to be in complete control but Nabil Fekir scored his first international goal in the dying minutes when he fired past Thibaut Courtois and Dimitri Payet added an injury-time third for the battling French.
However it was too little too late as Belgium held on for a rare away victory against their neighbours.
Belgium can now look forward to their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on Friday - which is live on Sky Sports - in confident mood.
Belgium and Wales are level on 11 points from five matches and tied for top spot in Group B, with Israel two points further back.
The top two teams qualify. Wales have failed to qualify for a major international tournament since the 1958 World Cup ahead of the match at Cardiff City Stadium.
