New Delhi: Matchday three of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 was off with a bang and it was a goal fest all around. A total of eight matches were being played late on Thursday night and there were all kinds of results on display. The tournament resumed after almost a month from the previous matchday where some teams picked up from where they left off while some struggled to get the desired results.
While there were a host of matches being played simultaneously, the first night of Matchday three was highlighted by a huge clash between Italy and Belgium, which took place in Rome. These two sides have met recently, with Italy overcoming them en route to their UEFA Euro 2020 triumph. Neither of these sides headed into the game at their best but we were still treated to an entertaining encounter. Let’s dive in to find out how the other matches took place.
England 1-2 Greece
Για σένα…🕊️
🏴 vs 🇬🇷 1-2 #Baldock #ethnikiomada #2goals pic.twitter.com/3Lxeb5XVQW
— Ethniki Omada (@EthnikiOmada) October 10, 2024
After impressing everyon during the previous matchdays, England’s interim boss, Lee Carlsey witnessed a shocking home defeat against Greece at Wembley Stadium. Jude Bellingham nearly put England ahead early on in the third minute with a powerful shot from 25 yards, but Odisseas Vlachodimos made a stunning save. England’s defense had a close call when Jordan Pickford almost gifted Greece a goal, but Levi Colwill’s smart clearance off the line from Anastasios Bakasetas’ chip kept the score level.
The match turned in favor of Greece when Benfica forward, Vangelis Pavlidis navigated through England’s defense to score early in the second half. Despite England’s efforts to respond, including fresh changes to bring on Noni Madueke and Ollie Watkins, the home side struggled to find their rhythm. Just when it seemed they might escape with a draw after Bellingham had equalized three minutes from normal time, Pavlidis struck again in the fourth minute of added time, sealing a historic win for Greece and leaving England to reflect on a disappointing performance.
Italy 2-2 Belgium
The points are shared in Rome. #ITABEL 🇮🇹🇧🇪 pic.twitter.com/jMV8aT9HBK
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) October 10, 2024
Italy were off to a strong start against Belgium, their best in 11 years, and took an early 2-0 lead in a vibrant display at home. Andrea Cambiaso opened the scoring with a well-placed shot following a fluid team move in the first minute, and Mateo Retegui doubled the advantage few minutes later. The Azzurri looked in control, showcasing their attacking prowess and solidifying their position atop Group A2. However, things took a turn when Lorenzo Pellegrini received a straight red card in the 40th minute, and that shifted the momentum of the match.
Belgium capitalized on Italy’s numerical disadvantage, with Maxim De Cuyper pulling one back with a long-range effort to head into the break at 2-1. The visitors continued to press, and Leandro Trossard leveled the score with a close-range finish after a clever header across goal. Despite Italy’s early dominance, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, leaving them with a single-point lead over France in the group, highlighting the need for discipline and focus moving forward.
Israel 1-4 France
𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 👊
Les Bleus clinch a 4-1 win over Israel ✅
🔜 We’ll be facing Belgium in our next match, on Monday at 8.45pm local time
🇮🇱1-4🇫🇷 | #ISRFRA | #FiersdetreBleus pic.twitter.com/0stBVtvce7
— French Team ⭐⭐ (@FrenchTeam) October 10, 2024
France emerged victorious with a 4-1 win over Israel, although the match was not without its challenges. Eduardo Camavinga put the visitors ahead early with a fortunate goal following a mistake from Israeli goalkeeper Omri Glazer. However, Israel shocked the French side by equalizing shortly after, with Omri Gandelman heading home from a well-placed pass, marking their ninth consecutive match scoring at home.
France quickly regained control through Christopher Nkunku, who netted his first international goal to restore the lead. The French attack continued to dominate, and a late surge saw Mattéo Guendouzi add a third goal just before stoppage time. Bradley Barcola capped off the performance with a fourth, ensuring a comfortable win for Les Bleus. Despite some moments of vulnerability, France’s strength and depth were evident as they solidified their position in the group, showcasing their attacking capabilities and resilience.
Norway 3-0 Slovenia
Erling Haaland becomes Norway men’s top scorer with 34 goals.
He’s done it in only 36 games ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/5K38DjmQAy
— B/R Football (@brfootball) October 10, 2024
Norway’s sensation Erling Haaland made history on Thursday by scoring twice in Norway’s 3-0 Nations League victory over Slovenia, becoming the nation’s all-time leading scorer with 34 goals. He opened the scoring in the seventh minute, tying Joergen Juve’s long-standing record of 33 goals, set in 1934 and then had a chance to break the record earlier but missed a header that went high. His impact was evident as he consistently pressured the Slovenian defense.
Norway continued to build momentum, with fellow forward Alexander Sorloth doubling the lead to 2-0 before Haaland found the net again in the 62nd minute, showcasing his trademark left-footed finishing. This victory not only solidified Haaland’s place in Norwegian football history but also placed Norway at the top of Group 3, boasting seven points, three ahead of Austria and Slovenia, while Kazakhstan sits at the bottom with one point.
Other Results
Moldova 2-0 Andorra
Latvia 0-3 North Macedonia
Gibraltar 1-0 San Marino
Austria 4-0 Kazakhstan
Norway 3-0 Slovenia
Faroe Islands 2-2 Armenia
Finland 1-2 Ireland
Matchday three of the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 was off with a bang and it was a goal fest all around. Dive in to catch up on all the action that took place on Thursday evening. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
