Despite a lackluster performance in a 0-0 draw with Israel under strict security in Paris, Italy’s triumph against Belgium on Thursday assured them a spot in the last eight and qualified them for the Nations League quarterfinals. With a decisive win in Athens, Lee Carsley, whose short tenure as England coach comes to an end on Sunday, put his team atop their group on goal differential. Italy defeated Belgium 1-0 in Group A2 in Brussels by being frugal.
After eleven minutes, the visitors scored after dominating the first eleven minutes. Giovanni Di Lorenzo, a fullback, sent a cross that veered into Sandro Tonali’s path for a tap-in.
Belgian center back Wout Faes’ effort in the second half struck a post.
“We showed again that we give it a go and don’t just sit back in matches, that’s the big change,” Tonali stated to RAI.
In front of nearly 17,000 spectators at the Stade de France in Paris, where the stadium can accommodate up to 80,000, hesitant France struggled to create and seize opportunities as they played to a 0-0 draw with Israel.
To prevent future attacks on supporters of the Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam last week, police officers and security personnel totaling almost 4,000 guarded both the inside and outside of the stadium.
Despite Israeli officials’ warnings to avoid the match, some 100 Israeli supporters showed up.
It wasn’t until the 20th minute that captain N’Golo Kante forced goalkeeper Daniel Peretz to make his first stop on the field by jinking into the six-yard area.
Peretz only had to make two diving stops in the second half, one from Warren Zaire-Emery and another from Christopher Nkunku in extra time, despite France managing 25 chances on goal.
“I’m angry. When French broadcaster TF1 asked France league fullback Jules Kounde what his first response was, he answered, “Frustration.”
When the teams play in Milan on Sunday, France might still win the group, even though Italy leads by three points.
“Against a very defensive opponent, we did what we had to do, but we could have done more,” France coach Didier Deschamps told TF1.
Kane dropped
League – After replacing the England captain league, Ollie Watkins spent seven minutes defending Carsley’s choice. After sprinting onto a pass from Jude Bellingham, Noni Madueke crossed for Watkins to stab home.
In the Group B2 match, the Greeks made England’s inexperienced defense to struggle, much as they did in their victory at Wembley in October.
Thirty minutes later, Kostas Tsimikas, the right back, dashed into the box. Jordan Pickford of Everton took a piledriver from the Liverpool player and flung himself to his right to block it.
England took the lead at the beginning of the second half. Before Fotis Ioannidis forced another diving save from Pickford, Bellingham struck a post with a header and Rico Lewis forced a save from Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Kane entered the game, but after 78 minutes, Bellingham, another England talisman, caused the goal that gave England the lead in the group. His shot soared in after hitting the post and rebounding into the back of the flying Vlachodimos.
Five minutes later, Curtis Jones, making his debut, added the third.
With one game remaining, both England and Greece have 12 points, but England has a three-point advantage in goal differential.
Carsley told ITV, “We’re heading in the right direction.” “We have a lot of outstanding talent.”
Michael Gregoritsch and Christoph Baumgartner of Austria both scored goals in the opening twenty-five minutes in Almaty, reducing Kazakhstan to 10 men.
With a 2-0 victory, Austria leads the group on goal differential from Norway, who triumphed 4-1 in Slovenia thanks to a goal from Erling Haaland.
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