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UEFA Nations League 2024/25: France beat Italy comfortably, Israel shock Belgium

By News Update

New Delhi: The Nations League 2024/25 has reached the final matchday of group stages and tonight we have witnessed quite a goalfest with a few strong European nations going head to head against each other. It was Italy who failed to get the job done against a much more motivated and dangerous looking France side, but the result didn’t affect the qualification of either of the two sides.

Belgium fail to win a game yet again, as Israel managed to pull off a major upset, while shots were fired and goals were scored when England welcomed their neighbours, Ireland at Wembley and Norway managed to thrash Kazakhstan. So let’s have a look at how things kicked off as the final matchday of Nations League started tonight.

Italy 1-3 France

France wins their Nations League group on goal differential after defeating Italy 3-1 at the San Siro! When Rabiot nodded in a precise corner from Digne to give France the lead, the visitors took the lead early on. Later in the first half, Digne’s incredible free-kick struck the bar, bounced off Vicario, and wound up in the back of the net, giving Deschamps’ team a further lead.

But France’s two-goal lead was short-lived as Cambiaso skillfully volleyed in Dimarco’s lofted ball to cut the lead to 2-1. France, who were sitting in second position in the table, set out to score another goal after the break. They found a third in the 65th minute, and another would put them ahead of Italy in the standings. Once more, Digne found Rabiot’s head with a free kick, and the midfielder headed into the top corner to make it 3-1.

Italy and France are waiting to find out who they will play in the next round of the Nations League, which resumes in March. This was the last international break of the year.

Israel 1-0 Belgium

Hungary is over, and Israel defeats Belgium, another struggling team, to complete the group. In the first half, neither team was able to defeat the other, so it ended up being a fairly peaceful match. Neither side took advantage of the few opportunities they had to advance. Israel struck the woodwork twice in the first half, while Lukebakio’s attempt in the 14th minute went just wide of the post, Belgium’s closest in the first half. The score was still 0-0 at halftime despite attempts by Saba and David that were only stopped by the post.

The game was somehow played more slowly than it had been in the first period going into the second half. Both teams appeared content to have the ball on their defensive line and not overly eager to attack. Sabi’a was tackled inside the Belgium box just as it appeared that the game would end in a goalless draw, but he was still able to pull out a ball for Shua.

Then, in the 86th minute, Shua took care of the rest, comfortably shooting past Casteels to give Israel a 1-0 lead. Israel won their first group match as a result, and the score stayed that way at the end.

England 5-0 Ireland

England finally gets promoted back to Nations League A, and they do it in grand fashion! At halftime, that didn’t seem likely because Ireland was firmly holding their hosts at bay. However, a very different second period that ends with England winning 5-0 was started by Scales’ red card. Prior to Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen, and Harwood-Bellis scoring goals for their nation, Kane scored the penalty that Scales gave up.

In a brilliant performance, Bellingham won Kane’s penalty kick and set up the final two goals. With the win, England will finish ahead of Greece and start the Thomas Tuchel era in March’s World Cup qualifying matches. Ireland will now shift their attention to that campaign as well, emphasizing the early half’s advantages over the second half’s disarray. But that’s all from this impressive victory for England.

Other results

Norway 5-0 Kazakhstan

Finland 0-2 Greece

Austria 1-1 Slovenia

North Macedonia 1-0 Faroe Islands

Latvia 1-2 Armenia

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