De Bruyne off after 63 minutes as Belgium fall 1-0 to France

Belgium lost 1-0 at home to France in the second matchday of the Nations League group stage, and this time Kevin De Bruyne could not prevent the late sting. The Napoli midfielder played 63 minutes before making way for Vanaken — and the goal that decided the game came just 25 minutes after he went off.

Van Bommel's Belgium held firm until the 88th minute, when Michael Olise settled it with a solo coast-to-coast run to make it 1-0. The defeat arrived late, after Belgium had stood up to France for most of the second half.

It was still a positive outing for De Bruyne, among the most involved in Belgium's build-up play as he tried to add quality to the side, without finding the decisive moment himself. It follows Belgium's opening win over Italy, in which his assist set up Godts' goal — Belgium close the international break with one win and one defeat, while De Bruyne continues to look sharper in Belgium's colours than he has so far managed at Napoli.

De Bruyne now returns to Castel Volturno, Napoli's training ground, where Allegri's squad resumed training on Tuesday 29 September after three days off. The midfield Allegri wants to field at full strength — De Bruyne, Anguissa, Lobotka and McTominay together — remains on hold: Anguissa is still out with a recurrence of his adductor injury and is a doubt for the Frosinone game on 10 October, the match Napoli are counting on to turn around their worst start to a season in ten years.