Fellaini inspires Belgium to 4-3 win over France

Belgium marked their rise into the top two of the FIFA world rankings with an impressive 4-3 victory over France in Sunday’s international friendly in Paris, with Marouane Fellaini playing an influential role

Paris: Belgium marked their rise into the top two of the FIFA world rankings with an impressive 4-3 victory over France in Sunday’s international friendly in Paris, with Marouane Fellaini playing an influential role.

Belgium’s Marouane Fellaini celebrates after scoring against France. Pic/AFP

The Red Devils climbed to their highest-ever ranking this week after replacing Argentina in second spot and they showed it was no fluke by racing into a 4-1 lead inside an hour at a shell-shocked Stade de France.

Manchester United midfielder Fellaini struck twice before half-time and Radja Nainggolan and Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard — with a penalty — notched further goals either side of a Mathieu Valbuena spot-kick for France at the start of the second period.

Too little, too late
The hosts managed to pull two goals back right at the end through Nabil Fekir and Dimitri Payet to add some respectability to the final scoreline, but Belgium had already done enough to claim victory.

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