New Delhi: Matchday 5 of the UEFA Nations League saw some thrilling moments across Europe as teams battled for vital points. In Group A2, France secured a point in a goalless draw against Israel, keeping their hopes of finishing top alive, despite missing star players. Ireland managed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Finland, with Evan Ferguson’s header and a key penalty save by Caoimhin Kelleher earning them back-to-back wins.
England beat Greece 3-0 away with goals from Ollie Watkins, Curtis Jones, and an own goal, while the Netherlands secured a 2-0 win over Croatia, with Memphis Depay and Steven Bergwijn on target. It was another dramatic night in the Nations League as teams pushed for crucial points on the road to qualification.
Elsewhere, Norway continued their strong campaign with a commanding 4-1 win over Slovenia. Erling Haaland extended his goalscoring record with a clinical strike, while teenager Antonio Nusa scored twice, and Jens Petter Hauge added another. Slovenia’s Benjamin Sesko scored from the spot, but it wasn’t enough to prevent a heavy defeat.
Austria handled freezing conditions well to secure a 2-0 victory over Kazakhstan, keeping their League A promotion hopes alive. The match saw a quiet start, with Patrick Wimmer’s attempt saved by Stas Pokalitov in the 13th minute. However, just before the 15-minute mark, Christoph Baumgartner opened the scoring, calmly finding the corner after creating space in the box.
Kazakhstan posed little threat in response, managing only one shot on target, which Alexander Schlager safely parried. Austria’s task became easier when Aleksandr Marochkin received a red card for bringing down Baumgartner, and Michael Gregoritsch fired in a stunning free-kick to make it 2-0.
Despite further opportunities, Austria couldn’t extend their lead, as Pokalitov made several saves and Wimmer struck the post. Still, Austria’s dominance secured three points and set up a decisive clash with Slovenia for promotion, while Kazakhstan face relegation to League C.
The Faroe Islands claimed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Armenia, thanks to a first-half penalty from Viljormur Davidsen. Both teams played a physical match, with a flurry of yellow cards being issued early on. Adrian Justinussen, Hovhannes Hambardzumyan, Jóannes Danielsen, and Georgi Harutyunyan all received bookings within the opening 30 minutes.
In the 33rd minute, the Faroe Islands gained the lead when Davidsen calmly converted a penalty, slotting his shot into the bottom left corner. Armenia made tactical substitutions at half-time, bringing on Grant-Leon Ranos and Zhirayr Shaghoyan to try and shift the game’s momentum. However, the Faroe Islands held firm, with Teitur Gestsson also booked late in the game for time-wasting as Armenia pressed for an equaliser.
North Macedonia secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Latvia in a tense UEFA Nations League clash, with Nikola Serafimov’s 63rd-minute goal proving decisive. The hosts dominated possession early, applying pressure but failing to find the net despite looking dangerous. Latvia defended resolutely, relying on counter-attacks to keep North Macedonia at bay.
The first half ended goalless, and both teams struggled to find rhythm amidst numerous fouls and yellow cards. In the second half, North Macedonia’s persistence paid off as Serafimov broke the deadlock, slotting home to give his side the lead. Latvia responded with multiple substitutions, aiming to salvage a point, but the Macedonian defence held firm.
Despite late efforts by Latvia, North Macedonia slowed the game in the final minutes to protect their slim lead, securing a valuable three points on home soil.
Lee Carsley’s decision to bench Harry Kane proved a masterstroke as England beat Greece 3-0, moving them closer to promotion to the Nations League’s top tier. In Kane’s absence, Ollie Watkins stepped up, netting the opener within seven minutes from a perfect Noni Madueke assist. Curtis Jones, making his debut, stole the show with a stunning back-heeled finish for England’s third goal, sealing a confident performance from the young squad.
England’s play was lively, with Madueke and Anthony Gordon exploiting Greece’s defence with pace. Jude Bellingham, influential as ever, forced an own goal from Greek keeper Odysseas Vlachodimos after a surging run. Carsley’s gamble on a youthful lineup paid off, with Kyle Walker captaining in Kane’s absence and leading a spirited team display. England now need a win over the Republic of Ireland to secure promotion, marking a successful interim tenure for Carsley.
France secured a UEFA Nations League quarterfinal spot with a 0-0 draw against Israel at the Stade de France, marking their first home game there since June 2023. The result guarantees France at least second place in Group A2, with their final group match against Italy in Milan set to decide the top spot.
Without key players Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, France struggled in attack. Randal Kolo Muani led the frontline but couldn’t break through, despite an early chance in the 19th minute saved by Israeli keeper Daniel Peretz. Warren Zaire-Emery, Marcus Thuram, and Christopher Nkunku each tested Peretz but couldn’t convert, leaving France frustrated in front of a tense crowd.
Despite lacking the creative spark, Les Bleus maintained control, but it wasn’t enough to secure a win. They’ll need more firepower against Italy if they hope to clinch the top spot in the group.
Ireland claimed a crucial 1-0 victory over Finland, clinching their spot in the promotion/relegation playoff. Despite a challenging encounter, Ireland managed to hold onto their lead, which came from an early header by Evan Ferguson, set up by a brilliant cross from Mikey Johnston. Johnston’s creativity gave Ireland the decisive goal, though he had nearly cost them earlier when Finland struck the post.
Finland dominated large portions of the match, hitting the woodwork multiple times and forcing Ireland’s defence into action. Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher was outstanding, making a series of critical saves, including a penalty stop from Pohjanpalo. Kelleher’s heroics earned him the man-of-the-match award on RTÉ, despite Nathan Collins being a strong contender after his solid defensive display.
The final minutes saw Ireland under heavy pressure, with Finland pushing forward and creating chances, including a dangerous attempt from Pukki. However, Ireland’s defence held firm, and the win marked their second consecutive victory over Finland, securing them a spot in the playoffs.
