All eyes were on France’s trip across the border to Belgium on Monday night as UEFA Nations League Group A2 reached the two-thirds stage, with Les Bleus and Italy vying for top spot.
The SBOTOP match of the week certainly had plenty of drama, as France skipper Aurelien Tchouameni was red carded with 15 minutes to go and the score at 2-1. But Didier Deschamps’ Bleus held on to the three points thanks to a double from PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani.
There was a lot riding on this match as the Red Devils could have moved above France with a win, and the top two in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals under the new tournament format.
And the hosts will be kicking themselves as they really went for the French, winning the shot counts by 20 to 14 and seven to four on target.
Youri Tielemans had a great chance to put the Belgians ahead from the penalty spot, but he blazed the ball high over the bar. And when Kolo Muani had his chance from 12 yards after a Wout Faes handball, he calmly swept the ball home.
Lois Openda levelled before the break, but Kolo Muani headed home on 62 minutes. Despite intense Belgium pressure after Les Bleus went down to 10 men, the visitors held on for a crucial three points.
In terms of the knockouts, Belgium’s campaign is all but over, though they still have work to do to avoid relegation. But Italy stay on top of Group A2 by a point and are sure to progress after they hammered Israel 4-1.
Napoli wing-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo bagged a brace, and Mateo Retegui and Davide Frattesi also scored, while Lorenzo Pellegrini sat this one out after he was red carded in the Azzurri’s 2-2 draw with Belgium last week.
Elsewhere, Germany versus the Netherlands has a lot of history, and there was plenty at stake when they met at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Monday night.
The UEFA Nations League 2024 betting odds make Julian Nagelsmann’s team one of the favourites to win the tournament and, while the Dutch played some nice football, they were limited to just three shots and one on target. Germany clinched the win as Jamie Leweling scored the only the goal of the game to mark his debut.
Nagelsmann is putting together a winning team with plenty of young talent at his disposal, and the 23-year-old Stuttgart winger has done himself no harm at all.
Germany are as good as in the quarter-finals, on 10 points and five clear in Group A3, but the Netherlands have a battle on their hands, as Hungary’s 2-0 win over Bosnia Herzegovina means they are locked together on five points.
Austria and Greece star on Sunday
In other UEFA Nations League 2024 news, there were some big games in League B action on Sunday night, as Austria hammered Norway 5-1 as Inter Milan striker Marko Arnautovic scored twice. The result means both these teams, along with Slovenia, who won 1-0 away to Kazakhstan, are level on seven points with two games to play.
Austria managed to keep Erling Haaland, who recently became Norway’s highest scorer of all time, quiet as they ran riot at the other end of the pitch. The Manchester City man did hit the post early in the game, but minutes later, Arnautovic smashed a shot in off the underside of the bar.
Alexander Sorloth levelled for Norway to make it 1-1 at half time, but the second half was one-way traffic, as the Austria skipper bagged his second from the penalty spot and Philipp Lienhart, Stefan Posch, and Michael Gregoritsch all scored with headers as the Norway defence collapsed.
Elsewhere, Greece are three points clear at the top of Group B2 after they beat the Republic of Ireland 2-0, while England won 3-1 away to Finland.
It was a third defeat in four games for the Irish, as Greek skipper Tasos Bakasetas scored a deflected opener early in the second half. And there was an element of chaos in the second goal as Irish keeper Caoimhin Kelleher passed straight to Greece substitute Petros Mantalos, who gleefully accepted his invitation, rounded Kelleher and slid the ball home.
This was another great night for Ivan Jovanovic’s side after they beat England last week, and they stay clear at the top of the table.
The group stages conclude next month when Greece host the Three Lions and then travel to struggling Finland, while the Republic entertain Finland before finishing off with a trip to Wembley.
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