Belgium showed dominance at home but lost to Italy. They beat them 1-0 in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals on Thursday. Despite a goalless draw with France, Israel in the last eight with them from Group A-2.
Meanwhile, England beat Greece 3-0 to secure the top spot in Group B-2. The Three Lions gave the Greeks their first taste of defeat. Even though both teams have 12 points, England is leading by goal difference.
Italy took the lead in the 11th minute at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Sandro Tonali scored the first goal in the jersey of the national team. Giovanni Di Lorenzo got the ball through the mistake of the opposing defender Maxime De Kuyper. The fake trembled tonally from his pass. That one goal ended Belgium's hopes of playing in the quarter-finals next March. The loss piled the pressure on coach Domenico Tedesco, whose side have won just one of their last seven matches.
Italy tops with 13 points in five matches. 10 points for France. The two teams will meet in the final match to secure the top spot.
Meanwhile, France disappointed after returning to the Stade de France after 17 months. After June 2023, their performance faded in this field.
A week ago, Israeli fans in Amsterdam were involved in violence. For this reason, the match between France and Israel is played with limited spectators and strict security. However, in the first half, the melee started in the gallery. French fans chant during the Israeli national anthem.
4,000 security personnel were on tight guard across the field. Only 16,611 spectators were in the gallery, the fewest at the Stade de France.
Kylian Mbappe was omitted from the squad and Ousmane Dembele was absent with a thigh injury. France could not burn either.
In the 19th minute, Randal Kolo Muani's head was safely saved by Israeli keeper Daniel Perez. France had another chance to score in the 77th minute. This time Warren Zaire-Emery was stopped by the guest keeper.
Meanwhile, England showed power in the field of Greece. Ollie Watkins opened the scoring on seven minutes. In the second half, Odyssos Vlachodimos's own goal increased the gap to the English. Curtis Jones scored the third goal in the 83rd minute.
