New Delhi: England successfully ended their final group of the UEFA Nations League with a promotion to the top flight of the tournament with a 5-0 win over the Republic of Ireland. The game saw four players scoring their maiden international goal. On the other hand France scored a brace to beat Italy, while Erling Haaland’s hat-trick helped Norway top their Group 3 of League B.
Beating a 10-man Ireland, England’s interim manager Lee Carsley was happy with the result in the aftermath of his final game at the helm of Three Lions. Before handing the charge to incoming boss Thomas Tuchel, Carsley noted that he was happy the English side was playing an attacking game. He concluded that he was happy with giving new players a chance.
England’s promotion to Nations League’s top-flight
England though had initially struggled to break through Ireland’s defence in the first half. However, the momentum of the game changed when Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham after Harry Kane’s brilliant pass, conceding a penalty as a result and also being sent off for a second booking. Kane took the spot-kick and managed to go past Irish keeper Caoimhim Kelleher.
Anthony Gordon doubled the lead within two minutes and scored his first international goal after Tino Livramento deflected a cross. Conor Gallagher then scored his first goal for England from Marc Guehi’s brilliant flick from the corner. Jarrod Bowen then scored his first international goal in the 76th minute, right after coming from the bench, with Taylor Harwood-Beillis scoring just three minutes later on debut, heading Bellingham’s cross.
Greece, on the other hand, are second in the same group despite winning 2-0 over Finland and will be heading to playoffs in March.
France take away the Group A2 top spot from Italy
GOAAAL! Same duo, same magic 😄
Digne whips in a free kick, and who else but RABIOT to head it home! 💥
🇮🇹1-3🇫🇷 | #ITAFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/I0aK1zain6
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) November 17, 2024
France took home the top spot in Group A2 from Italy with a 3-1 win in San Siro. With both teams through to the final eight of the competition, a two-goal difference win for France would ensure a top spot for Les Bleus. Adrien Rabiot gave an early lead to the visitors when he scored in the second minute of the game from left-back Lucas Digne’s cross.
Digne then helped France double their lead in the 33rd minute when a long-range free-kick struck the goalpost before ricocheting from the back of Italian goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario for an own goal. Though Andrea Cambiaso soon scored for the hosts, Rabiot’s brace in the 65th minute ensured Azzurri never returned in the game. After making his 50th appearance for France in the game, Rabiot noted that this was one of the team’s best collective performances in a long while.
He noted that France had finally fought as a team and it was the image that they had always been associated with. In the match in the group, Israel beat Belgium 1-0. However, they needed a three-goal margin to avoid an automatic relegation.
Haaland dominates Kazakhstan
ANTOOONIOOOO NUSAAAAAA.
That’s it. That’s the tweet. What a player.
🇳🇴 Norway 5 – 0 Kazakhstan 🇰🇿 pic.twitter.com/NIZRivrqpa
— Football Norway (@NorwayFooty) November 17, 2024
Erling Haaland has been in an amazing touch for Manchester City, and that form rubbed off during Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhstan. They finished on top of Group 3 of League B after Austria were successfully held for a 1-1 draw against Slovenia. The 24-year-old scored the first goal for the side in the 23rd minute from a rebound. Haaland then doubled the lead 14 minutes later. Four minutes before the break, Alexander Sorloth scored Norway’s third.
Although the second half started slowly, Haaland soon scored his fourth international hat-trick in the 71st minute, finishing from his right foot with a low bottom corner. Antonio Nusa also got on the scoresheet when he scored in the 76th minute. The win means that Norway now has automatic promotion after Austria conceded an equalizer from Slovenia in the 81st minute.
England and Norway secure promotion to the top tier of Nations League as France take away Group A2 top spot from Italy in a thrilling 3-1 win over the Azzurris. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
