Belgium and Italy in a win or bust game
Needing one point to secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Italy will meet Belgium as League A Group 2 draws closer to its conclusion on Thursday.
The Azzurri only need to deny their hosts victory at Stade Roi Baudouin, while it is a case of win or bust for the Belgians, who have picked up just four points so far.
Belgium met neighbours France for the second time in the space of a month on matchday four of their Group 2 campaign, hoping to finally topple Les Bleus after dispiriting defeats in both the Nations League and Euro 2024.
Occupying third place – five points below France, and six shy of the Azzurri – Domenico Tedesco‘s side seem to be heading for a relegation playoff, which would determine whether they can keep their League A status.
A top-two finish is required to reach the knockout phase for a second time – in 2019, Belgium lost a third-place playoff to Italy in the finals – so their task is straightforward on Thursday: they must win to stay in contention.
That would take it down to Sunday’s grand finale, when they will meet rock-bottom Israel in Hungary – but the Belgians have failed to beat their Italian counterparts in a competitive match since 1972.
After putting up a dismal defence of their title at the Euros, new-look Italy have been a breath of fresh air in Group 2 thus far, racking up 10 points from a possible 12 to inch within a whisker of securing progress.
Even if they cannot get the job done in midweek, another mouthwatering clash with Les Bleus is scheduled for Sunday evening at San Siro, easing any pressure on a squad with a younger age profile than previous editions of La Nazionale.
Although an unhappy Belgium camp is beset by withdrawals and injuries, Romelu Lukaku knows his opponents all too well and may bail out his nation once again.
A point would be enough for Italy to seal progress in any case, so another score draw between these teams is the likeliest result.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
France look to finish on top as they host Israel
France will be looking to boost their hopes of finishing top of League A Group 2 in the UEFA Nations League when they play host to Israel at the Stade de France on Thursday evening.
Les Bleus secured a 4-1 away victory in the reverse fixture held in Budapest last month, courtesy of goals from Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku, Matteo Guendouzi and Bradley Barcola.
Since losing 3-1 at home to Italy in their opening Nations League match, France have picked up a maximum nine points from their last three group games, with their aforementioned victory over Israel sandwiched between two wins against Belgium.
Ranked second in the world by FIFA, 2021 Nations League champions France currently sit second in League A Group 2 and are just one point behind leaders Italy, who they will face in their potentially-pivotal final fixture in Milan on Sunday.
France will secure their spot in the Nations League quarter-finals if they avoid defeat against Israel on Thursday and Belgium fail to come out on top in their penultimate group fixture with Italy.
However, if Belgium beat Italy and France fail to win, then the latter will remain at risk of entering the relegation playoffs.
The home side head into Thursday’s contest with Israel having not lost any of their previous seven meetings with the Sky-Blue and Whites in all competitions.
The Sky-Blue and Whites will be relegated to League B if they suffer defeat to France on Thursday, or if Belgium beat Italy, while their only hope of survival is if they win their remaining two matches, including one against Belgium on Sunday, and somehow prevail in the relegation playoff.
Israel will fancy their chances of finding the net on Thursday having scored in all four Nations League matches thus far, but they may not have as much joy against France this time around.
Indeed, Les Bleus will be regarded as firm favourites to come out on top in this fixture and we are backing an Mbappe-less side to secure all three points in comfortable fashion on home soil.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
England out for revenge against Greece
England will be out for revenge when they travel to the Olympiako Stadio Spyros Louis in Athens to face Greece in their penultimate League B Group 2 fixture in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday.
The Three Lions suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat to the Blues and Whites at Wembley Stadium last month courtesy of two goals from Vangelis Pavlidis, including a 94th-minute winner.
England’s encounter with Greece on Thursday will represent the first match since the appointment of new head coach Thomas Tuchel, the Three Lions’ third foreign manager who was unveiled as Gareth Southgate‘s successor on October 16 and has penned an 18-month contract.
However, the German – formerly of Bayern Munich and Chelsea – will not officially take the reins until January of next year, so Lee Carsley will remain in interim charge for England’s final two Nations League matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland this month.
Carsley’s experimental team selection in England’s chastening defeat at the hands of Greece backfired in disappointing fashion last month, but the Three Lions quickly bounced back with a 3-1 victory against Finland in Helsinki, keeping their hopes of League B promotion alive and setting a new national team record in the process.
Ranked fourth in the world by FIFA, England currently sit second in their Nations League group and three points behind leaders Greece. Victory by at least a two-goal margin on Thursday will see them climb to the summit on goal difference with one final game remaining.
The pressure is on Carsley to steer England to an important victory and the onus will be on his team to take the game to Greece, who have impressed on home soil and have made themselves difficult to break down in front of their own supporters.
England may be without several star players who Carsley would have liked to have selected in his side for this fixture, but he still has a wealth of talent at his disposal and if he names a less-experimental side that includes Kane leading the line, then the Three Lions should just about get the job done in Athens.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Fixtures
