PARIS // Belgium lived up to their billing as second only to world champions Germany in the Fifa rankings with a tougher-than-expected 4-3 victory over France, at the Stade de France on Sunday.
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini gave Marc Wilmot’s side a 2-0 half-time lead, with goals in the 17th and 42nd minutes, before second-half strikes from Radja Nainggolan and Eden Hazard appeared to have put the result beyond doubt.
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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.
“To come to France and win is a great result,” Wilmots said. “We created dozens of chances and didn’t give away many.”
France midfielder Blaise Matuidi said: “It was a complicated night. We missed lots of opportunities. There’s work to be done.”
At 4-1 up and only minutes remaining, the visitors looked to be in control. But Nabil Fekir pulled France back to 4-2 with 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.
Belgium held on for a rare away victory over their neighbours.
France have conceded seven goals in their past three matches, which is more than their previous 16 encounters combined.
Belgium can look forward to their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier, against Wales in Cardiff on Friday, in a confident mood despite the doubts surrounding their coach.
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.
Wilmots has been linked with a move to Bundesliga club Schalke 04 where he won the Uefa Cup as a player in 1997.
“I have been contacted. I have a clause which allows me to leave at any time. But that does not mean that I will go,” Wilmots said recently.
The last two meetings of the neighbours ended in goalless draws. Belgium had not defeated France since May 2002, when Wilmots scored in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win against the world champions.
France are Euro 2016 hosts and qualify automatically.
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