UEFA Nations League matchday three got underway on Thursday with some interesting fixtures, including a headline clash between Italy and Belgium in the Eternal City.
Here’s what happened.
England 1-2 Greece
Scorers: Bellingham 88′; Pavlidis 49′, 90+4′
Interim England boss Lee Carlsey presided over a shock home loss against visiting Greece at Wembley Stadium tonight with the visitors earning their first-ever win over the Three Lions in ten attempts.
Jude Bellingham nearly opened the scoring in just the third minute of action after his rasping 25-yard effort forced Newcastle United’s Odisseas Vlachodimos into a top-class save.
Jordan Pickford nearly gift-wrapped Greece a shock lead after surrendering possession just outside the area, but Chelsea’s Levi Colwill scrambled off the line after Anastasios Bakasetas looked to chip the Everton keeper.
Greece officially took a shock lead early in the second half thanks to Benfica striker Vangelis Pavlidis after the big man tip-toed through England’s defence in the box before dispatching past Pickford.
Changes before the 60th minute would see Noni Madueke come on for Bukayo Saka (injury) and Watkins replace Anthony Gordon (tactical), with Watkins blazing over the bar from inside the area mere seconds after his introduction.
England thought they would be spared a shock home defeat in the dying minutes of normal time after a Bellingham rocket from outside the area to beat Vlachodimos, but Pavlidis popped up inside the area to restore Greece’s lead in added time.
Looking at group B2, Greece remain perfect with three wins from three while England are second.
Italy 2-2 Belgium
Scorers: Cambiaso 1′, Retegui 24′; De Cuyper 42′, Trossard 62′. Red: Pellegrini 40′
Italy struggled to make a 2-goal lead count against visiting Belgium in a tasty 2-2 affair in the capital.
Gli Azzurri got off to a flyer in front of home support against visiting Belgium when Andrea Cambiaso scored his first goal for Italy on the first shot on target after 17 completed passes.
Mateo Retegui would double their advantage inside the first 25 minutes of action after pouncing on a Cambiaso effort that was turned away by Koen Casteels before slotting home from close range.
Domenico Tedesco’s De Rode Duivels found their way back into proceedings after Maxim De Cuyper cut the deficit in half with a long-range effort after Lorenzo Pellegrini received his marching orders thanks to a straight red.
Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard pulled Belgium level seventeen minutes after the restart with a typical close-range finish after Wout Faes headed across goal to find the midfielder free to convert at the back post.
This result sees Italy remain top of Group A2, 1 point ahead of France.
Israel 1-4 France
Scorers: Gandelman 24′; Camavinga 7′, Nkunku 28′, Guendouzi 87′, Barcola 89′
Les Bleus were made to work for all three points on their travels after Didier Deschamps’ men banked a 4-1 win in Israel.
Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga gave the visiting French side an early 1-0 lead in the seventh minute after a fluke by Israeli shot-stopper Omri Glazer.
The home side would shockingly pull back level seventeen minutes later through Omri Gandelman after a lovely ball over the top from Oscar Gloukh found the KAA Gent man who headed past Mike Maignan.
Gandelman’s strike made it nine straight matches where Israel found the back of the net in front of home supporters.
France would restore their one-goal advantage four minutes later thanks to Christopher Nkunku’s first international goal, with one-way traffic continuing despite the scoreline.
Substitute Mattéo Guendouzi would put the match to bed just three minutes before stoppage time with a low drive from the top of the box, with a fourth coming two minutes later through Bradley Barcola.
Finland 1-2 Ireland
Scorers: Pohjanpalo 18′; Scales 58′, Brady 89′
Republic of Ireland condemned home side Finland to three defeats in three during Nations League play after a 2-1 comeback win in Helsinki.
Venezia’s Joel Pohjanpalo set the Finns off the mark on the night inside the first 20 minutes of action before Celtic centre-back Liam Scales’ header brought Ireland back to parity after the half-time interval.
Preston North End full-back Robert Brady would give Ireland all the points on the night with just one minute of normal time remaining with a near-post finish to beat Lukas Hradecky.
This result sees Ireland bank their first points of Nations League play this cycle, while Finland sit bottom of Group B2.
