Euro 2024: Gary Neville blames Belgium player after France’s 1-0 win


Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has said Belgium’s Jan Vertonghen cost his team as they lost 1-0 to France in their Round of 16 clash at Euro 2024.

There were no goals in the first half, as both teams held their own in Düsseldorf.

But in the second half, Kolo Muani’s late deflected strike off Vertonghen beat Casteels to give Didier Deschamps’ side victory.

Neville said on ITV: “I think Vertonghen will be really disappointed [with the goal], and not just because it gets credited to him as an own goal. He has got to shift up. Kolo Muani doesn’t do anything amazing. He’s a little bit scruffy on the turn.

“But he’s got to shift up. Once you’re one or two yards off, that’s not unlucky; it falls into the category of poor defending, and he knows that; he’s an experienced player. It’s a big mistake and he will be devastated.”

France will face the winner of Portugal vs Slovenia in the quarterfinal.