Video: French defender Benoit Tremoulinas escapes red card after horror tackle on Dries Mertens
The friendly match between France and Belgium was an entertaining one but it also had a mad moment when Benoit Tremoulinas launched a bone crushing tackle on Beligum’s Dries Mertens.
The horror tackle could have broken the Belgian winger’s leg and Tremoulinas was lucky to escape without any punishment. The match saw a lot of goals as Belgium beat France 4-3. But one of the biggest talking points from the match was the Sevilla and France defender’s studs up challenge.
The defender’s lunging tackle caught the winger’s knee who was in agony right away. The Frenchman did make contact with the ball before catching the winger, but the tackle was without a doubt a dangerous one that merited a red card.
The referee did not even award a yellow card for the foul and the French full back managed to complete 90 minutes on the pitch. As for Belgium, it was the perfect way to prepare for their crucial Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday against Wales.
Marouane Fellaini scored two goals and Radja Nainggolan also got on the scoresheet to give Belgium a 3-0 lead. France fought back as Mathieu Valbuena scored a penalty to reduce the deficit. But the three-goal margin was restored when Eden Hazard converted a spot-kick.
Two late goals from Nabil Fekir and Dimitri Payet was not enough for France as Belgium marched on to a fine win.
Watch Tremoulinas’ horror tackle on Dries Mertens:
All the goals and highlights of France 3-4 Belgium match: