Italy and France, to the quarterfinals of the Nations League

Spalletti’s team beat Belgium (0-1) and Deschamps’ team tied the turbulent match against Israel

England returned it to Greece to redirect its rise

The teams of Italy and France sealed their tickets to the quarterfinals of the Nations League in Group 2 this Thursday, after a victory (0-1) over Belgium and a goalless draw against Israel, while England thrashed Greece (0-3) to take the lead in search of promotion to League A.

A goal by Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali in the 11th minute, after a good visitor play on the right wing, was enough to take the three points from the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Luciano Spalletti’s team had authority in the first half and Belgium’s reaction was not enough.

The second half belonged to the locals, with Trossard chances and a Wout Faes that touched them at the end, where Italy knew how to suffer to score more than enough and secure its presence in the quarterfinals. Furthermore, Spalletti’s men will need a draw in Milan or a narrow defeat against the French in three days’ time to be first in the group ahead of France, also with a tied ticket.

Didier Deschamps’ men met their number one objective in a very intense clash, without Kylian Mbappé, also marked by the political context and strong security measures. The demonstration in favor of Palestine a couple of kilometers from the stadium, the presence of Israeli fans: the Stade de France had barely 20,000 spectators, with some disturbances in the stands.

Randal Kolo Muani and N’Golo Kanté had the timid local chances in the first half, but France was ineffective, also with the changes in search of the goal. Kingsley Coman gave Thuram the possible 1-0 lead in stoppage time, but ‘Les Bleus’ fulfilled the requirements of this Nations League, although the lead forces them to win by two goals against Italy, something unlikely given what we have seen.

Furthermore, within Group 2 of the second division of the tournament, League B, England took revenge on Greece to become the leader and aspire to promotion with the last day against Ireland. Lee Carsley is confident of successfully completing his service on the ‘Three Lions’ bench that Thomas Tuchel will occupy from 2025, after losing at Wembley against an outmatched Greece this time in Athens.

Ollie Watkins, Jude Bellingham and Curtis Jones were the protagonists of the goals for an England that was more collective than it had been, despite its many losses. Carsley pulled on the youngsters and no more experiments, each one in their place, to put his team in the lead although with the same 12 points as Greece.