France overcame a slow start to beat neighbours Belgium 2-0 on Monday as Randal Kolo Muani's strike and Ousmane Dembele's left-footed finish gave them their first points of the Nations League campaign.
It was a positive response from the French, who changed eight of their starting players, including Kylian Mbappe, after being beaten 3-1 by Italy in Paris last Friday in their opening Group A2 game.
But they had to withstand the initial attacks of their visitors before finding their rhythm and then taking control of the match.
“We were a bit nervous at the start of the match, then we did a lot of good things collectively, individually too, with new players who had no experience,” said France coach Didier Deschamps.
Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco admitted before the match that his team had been too timid and wary of France when they lost 1-0 in the last 16 of the European Championship in Dusseldorf 70 days ago.
This time they came out fighting, creating chances for Lois Openda in a bright start before France found their form.
Kolo Muani gave the hosts a 29th-minute lead after Belgium goalkeeper Koen Casteels made a one-handed save from Dembele's deflected shot that was straight into the path of the Paris St Germain forward, who fired home from close range.
Dembele always looked dangerous and got his reward in the 57th minute when he skipped sideways around the edge of the Belgian box before finding space to fire a superb shot past Casteels.
“People tell me I'm too generous and that I try to go too far. I decided to try my luck,” Dembélé told French television TF1. “This season I'm going to try my luck even more, to be more selfish.”
Belgium barely threatened until Charles De Ketelaere came on in the 69th minute and quickly fired home, followed shortly after by a pair of weak efforts from captain Kevin De Bruyne, who had a largely frustrating night.
“The first 25 minutes and the last 25 minutes we played with the right mentality,” Tedesco told reporters.
“Everything that happened in between was not enough for me. Then you see that France is one step ahead. Where we lost patience, they kept their cool and did a lot of damage with their power.”
Mbappé came on in the 67th minute alongside Bradley Barcola, whose move to PSG from Olympique Lyonnais last season has not been forgotten and who was booed by the home side.
Mbappé was brilliant as he attempted to add his name to the scoresheet, narrowly missing from a tight angle 10 minutes from time and having a shot saved by Casteels in the 86th minute.
Italy won their other Group A2 match against Israel in Budapest on Monday to take a three-point lead. Belgium, which beat Israel 3-1 in Hungary last Friday, is tied for second place with France on three points.
