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UEFA Nations League: France still winless and Croatia win in Denmark

The third edition of the UEFA Nations League is underway, with two matchdays played and four more to go before the final tournament in June 2023. UEFA.com takes a look at the big matchday three fixtures already played and still to come play.

All Nations League matches


Thursday June 9

Group A2 Portugal 2-0 Czech Republic
Group A2 Switzerland 0-1 Spain
Grupo B4 Norway – Slovenia 0-0
Group B4 Sweden – Serbia 0- 1
Group C2 Greece 3-0 Cyprus
Group C2 Kosovo 3-2 Northern Ireland
Grupo C4 Gibraltar – Bulgaria 1-1
Group C4 Macedonia del Norte – Georgia 0-3
Group D2 Malta 1-2 Estonia

Friday June 10
Group A1 Austria 1-1 France
Group A1 Denmark 0-1 Croatia
Grupo B2 Albania – Israel 1-2
Group B2 Russia (suspended until further notice) – Iceland
Group C3 Azerbaijan – Slovakia 0-1
Group C3 Belarus 1-1 Kazakhstan
Group D1 Moldova – Latvia 2-4
Grupo D1 Andorra – Liechtenstein 2-1

EURO 2020: Italy 1-1 England (pens: 3-2)

Saturday June 11
Group A3 England – Italy
Group A3 Hungary – Germany
Group A4 Netherlands – Poland
Group A4 Wales – Belgium
Group B1 Republic of Ireland – Scotland (18:00)
Group B1 Ukraine – Armenia (15:00)
Group B3 Montenegro – Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group B3 Romania – Finland
Group C1 Faroe Islands – Lithuania (18:00)
Group C1 Luxembourg – Turkey

All starts are at 20:45CET unless otherwise stated

Thursday – Spain wins and Portugal stands out

Demanded to get the three points, Spain came out from the start in search of the goal and in the 13th minute they were already winning thanks to a goal by Pablo Sarabia from Marcos Llorente’s pass. The 0-1 did not leave Switzerland very touched, which before the break looked for the tie without much luck. Already in the second act, the Spanish team dedicated themselves to maintaining possession of the ball against some Swiss who did not create chances, although at the last moment they had a chance to prevent Spain’s first win.

From the beginning, Portugal carried the weight of the match but the Czechs had a chance against it. However, after half an hour of play, the Portuguese team left the match very much on track with goals (both with shots from inside the box) from João Cancelo and Gonçalo Guedes. This score left the visitors very discouraged at the beginning of the second half with a Portugal that dedicated itself to taking a nap and where Cristiano Ronaldo did not score.

Haaland, another scorer, failed to score for Norway against Slovenia.

Friday – Goal by Mbappé and victory for Croatia

Benzema dances in front of the Danish defense

France went out at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion in Vienna looking for their first victory and had a great opportunity to score after a shot from Benzema, but Pentz spoiled the occasion. However, before the break the surprise broke out when Weimann gladly took advantage of a cross from the right by Laimer to beat Lloris. Already in the second, Mbappé made an appearance in the game by coming off the bench with the aim of looking for the tie, which came in the 83rd minute through a goal from the Paris star. Without a doubt, it was a fair 1-1 after a second half totally controlled by a France that, however, still hasn’t won.

The first half ended goalless in Copenhagen, where Denmark was the team that sought the 1-0 the hardest. Cornelius had a great opportunity but Livaković with a great intervention prevented the local goal. Meanwhile, in the second half Croatia put one more gear into the game with Modrić already on the pitch. And the bet on the Croatian team paid off in minute 69, when a goal from Pašalić sealed the Croatian victory.

Meanwhile, Andorra defender Chus Rubio scored Friday’s goal from his own half to help his team beat Liechtenstein.

Saturday – revenge of the EURO final

Italy v England: full penalty shootout

Last summer England lost to Italy on penalties in the UEFA EURO 2020 final, but now they meet again (at Molineux and not Wembley) in UEFA Nations League Group A3, and a lot has happened since then . Gareth Southgate’s side began their campaign with a 1-0 loss in Hungary and then drew 1-1 in Germany.

Southgate’s England continue to work, while Roberto Mancini has an even bigger task in his quest to renew his Italian side, as the 3-0 Finalisima loss to Argentina spelled the end of the old generation. “Winning the European Championship was magical,” he said. “Now we have to start over to get that magic back.” 18-year-old Wilfried Gnonto’s performance against Germany on Matchday 1 aroused great anticipation, but the coach is not expecting miracles anytime soon. “It takes time,” he said. “We can’t invent players just like that.”

Saturday – Wales welcomes Belgium

EURO 2016 in video: Wales 3-1 Belgium

In other circumstances, Wales fans would be delighted at the prospect of remembering their stellar 3-1 win against Belgium in the UEFA EURO 2016 quarter-finals, but hope for the future is the order of the day after their win in the World Cup play-offs against Ukraine. Keeping his team focused on the task at hand in the Nations League is a challenge for Rob Page.

Back in 2016, Wales were a complete underdog when they met Belgium, and they will be again as they come into this match on the back of two defeats in Group A4. Roberto Martínez’s side were listless when they lost 4-1 at home to the Netherlands in their first game, but on Wednesday they recorded a remarkable 6-1 victory against Poland. “After the match [de Holanda]the locker room was quiet: nobody said anything,” said defender Timothy Castagne. However, with their spirits already raised, they will want to make up for that slip in France.

Later?

• Matchday four marks the last day of the 2021/22 men’s football calendar, and the start of the second half of the UEFA Nations League programme, with the Scandinavian classic between Norway and Sweden and another rematch of the UEFA World Cup final. FIFA 2018 between France and Croatia in sight.

• The UEFA Nations League will have its own summer break in July and August, before the postponed matchday one match between Scotland and Ukraine on Wednesday 21 September. On Thursday, September 22, the match between Kazakhstan and Belarus, which will be played in the early hours, marks the start of matchday five, in which Italy’s home game against England is perhaps the highlight.

• – Matchday 6 will be played from Sunday 25 to Tuesday 27 September, and from then on the relegation and promotion of each league will be largely decided. The first selections of each of the four sections of League A will also be confirmed in the final phase, which will take place in June 2023.

Key dates

Matchdays 5 and 6: September 22–27, 2022
Final phase draw: to be confirmed
Semifinals: June 14 and 15, 2023
Final and match for third place: June 18, 2023
Relegation play-off matches: March 21-23 and 24-26, 2024

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