Rabiot frustrates France staff before influencing fourth goal against Belgium

Adrien Rabiot nearly spoiled his appearance before even stepping on the pitch, Monday evening at Stade de France, during France’s victory over Belgium (4-1). Sent on by Zinedine Zidane in the 88th minute as a replacement for Eduardo Camavinga, the AC Milan midfielder exasperated the French staff with his lack of urgency in preparing.

According to commentator Jean-Louis Tourre, present in the stands, Rabiot was warming up slowly and had not yet put on his studs when the substitution was about to be validated. “He was warming up at a snail’s pace, he didn’t have his studs on, it drove the France team staff crazy,” he reported. The manager’s assistants had to wait before they could officially confirm the substitution in the closing stages.

Once on the pitch, the Milan player quickly erased this episode. Active from his first touches, Rabiot initiated the sequence for France’s fourth goal, finished brilliantly by Michael Olise. A brief but effective appearance that allowed him to make up for his initial lack of preparation.

At the final whistle, the incident seemed already forgotten: cameras captured a warm embrace between Rabiot and Zidane, with no apparent sign of resentment between the two men.

This episode comes at a delicate time for the former Marseille player. A starter three days earlier against Italy, he was involved in the opposition’s equalizer following an overhit pass by Lucas Da Cunha. Relegated to the bench against Belgium, Rabiot sees his place in the midfield hierarchy seriously questioned, as competition in midfield continues to intensify within the France squad.