Italy and France lock up Nations League quarter-final spots / Photo: © AFP
Italy and France lock up Nations League quarter-final spots
Italy ensured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals with a victory over Belgium on Thursday that also guaranteed France a place in the last-eight despite a lacklustre display in a scoreless draw with Israel under tight security in Paris.
Lee Carsley, whose brief reign as England coach ends on Sunday, enjoyed an emphatic victory in Athens that put his team top of their pool on goal difference.
In Brussels, Italy were economical as they beat Belgium 1-0 in Group A2.
The visitors dominated the early stages and scored after 11 minutes. Slick play by fullback Giovanni Di Lorenzo set up Sandro Tonali for a tap in.
At the Stade de France, tentative France struggled to create and take chances as they drew 0-0 with Israel before a sparse and grumbling crowd at the Stade de France.
The game took place under heavy security after fans from the Maccabi Tel Aviv club were attacked in Amsterdam last week following a Europa League match against Ajax.
On Thursday, it took until the 20th minute for captain N'Golo Kante, jinking into the six-yard box to force a first save from goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
Israel almost pounced after 35 minutes when centre back Raz Shlomo stole in unmarked at the far post, but missed the ball completely as he tried to side-foot home.
France managed 25 attempts on goal but Peretz had to make only two diving saves in the second half, first from Warren Zaire-Emery and then in added time from Christopher Nkunku.
Israeli hung on for their first point in the Nations League top tier.
Italy lead the group by three points but France could still take first when the teams meet in Milan on Sunday.
- Kane dropped -
In Athens, Carsley, forced into a string of changes by the flurry of withdrawals from his last England squad, sprung a surprise by dropping Harry Kane.
Ollie Watkins replaced the England captain and took seven minutes to justify Carsley's decision. Noni Madueke raced onto a Jude Bellingham pass and crossed for Watkins to stab home.
As in their win at Wembley in October, the Greeks caused England's inexperienced defence problems in the Group B2 clash.
After 30 minutes, right back Kostas Tsimikas, ran into space in the box. Everton's Jordan Pickford hurled himself to his right to turn away a piledriver from the Liverpool man.
England started the second half in control. Rico Lewis forced a save from Odysseas Vlachodimos and Bellingham hit a post with a header before Fotis Ioannidis drew another diving save from Pickford.
Kane came on but another England talisman, Bellingham, forced the goal that put England top of the group after 78 minutes. His shot struck the post rebounded into the back of airborne Vlachodimos and flew in.
Curtis Jones, on his debut, added the third five minutes later.
England and Greece both have 12 points with one game to go but England's goal difference is three better.
The top two in B3 are also separated on goal difference as leaders Austria and pursuers Norway both won.
North Macedonia locked up first place in C4 as the Faroe Island, the fourth smallest UEFA nation, climbed into position for a potential promotion playoff.
Austria's Christoph Baumgartner and Michael Gregoritsch scored in the first 25 minutes in Almaty by which time Kazakhstan were down to ten men.
Austria saw out a 2-0 win and top Group B3 on goal difference from Norway won 4-1 in Slovenia with Erling Haaland scoring once.
North Macedonia won 1-0 at home to Latvia to go seven points clear in C4 ahead of the Faroes.
The islanders won 1-0 in Armenia with a goal from Viljormur Davidsen.
S.Ross--TNT
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