‘Sensational’ – Milan duo Theo and Maignan decisive in France’s win over Belgium

Theo Hernandez and Mike Maignan are drawing praise again from the media after their contributions helped France obtain another clean sheet and to beat Belgium 1-0.

It was an own-goal from Jan Vertonghen in the 85th minute that was enough to see France through to the quarter-finals of the European Championship, but also another resilient defensive effort which the Milan duo contributed to.

Theo and Maignan have both become key figures for the France boss Didier Deschamps and were also decisive yesterday afternoon with a series of important interventions.

MilanNews has the ratings that Theo got in the Italian papers, starting with La Gazzetta dello Sport (7 out of 10): “His recovery on Carrasco was sensational, set up by De Bruyne, winner of the challenge that led to the own-goal.”

Tuttosport (6.5): “A piston who never gets tired, but who is also capable of closing in an amazing way, as happened in the second half on Carrasco, two steps away from Maignan.”

MilanNews (6.5): “Good performance by the Milan full-back, who is now Deschamps’s mainstay. A little less aggressive than usual, he ‘limits’ himself to the defensive phase, falling back decisively, especially in the block on Carrasco.”

Maignan made a series of saves that allowed France to get qualification for the final eight, and La Gazzetta dello Sport gave him a 7: “Tested by Lukaku and De Bruyne, he was ready with unmistakable saves.”

Tuttosport (7): “Very attentive, as usual. Decisive on De Bruyne in the final stages.”

MilanNews (6.5): “Mike in his safety mode tonight. Saves three times by responding to De Bruyne, Lukaku and De Bruyne again in the second half.”