Belgian own-goal sends misfiring France into last 16

July 1 – France’s quest for a first European crown in 24 years continues but they were made to fight all the way before securing a 1-0 over neighbours Belgium courtesy of a Jan Vertonghen own goal just as an absorbing if hardly memorable contest was heading for extra time.

On paper, this was the blockbuster heavyweight clash no-one wanted to miss between Europe’s top two nations on ranking, paired in the last-16 only because both somehow failed to win their respective groups.

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