Today’s UEFA Nations League Fixtures & Previews

Italy** and France clash in their penultimate group game **

Two heavyweights will clash at one of football’s grandest arenas on Thursday evening, as Italy and France meet for their penultimate League A Group 1 game in the UEFA Nations League.

After a 1-1 draw in Paris earlier this season, the pair resume their campaigns at San Siro, where victory would confirm top spot for Les Bleus.

Roberto Mancini has been making the most of his second chance with Italy since taking the reins again.

Italy sit second in Group 1 with seven points, one above Belgium and three adrift of France, so they are currently set to qualify for the knockout rounds.

However, they must now negotiate two testing fixtures; after hosting FIFA’s third-ranked side on Thursday night, they will visit Brussels for a potentially decisive showdown.

While Mancini was away from the Italy job for three years, Zinedane Zidane waited even longer to take charge of France, finally succeeding Didier Deschamps this summer.

Aside from drawing with Italy in an earlier fixture, it has been an almost flawless start to Zidane’s reign, featuring two wins over neighbours Belgium and another against Turkey.

Though Italy’s big rebuild has started with some promise, the Azzurri’s defence still looks vulnerable against top-notch opposition.

Furthermore, following almost a century without defeat in Milan, their recent results at San Siro have been very mixed.

Given that context, a strong France side can make it four wins from five in Group 1, comfortably booking their place in the knockout phase.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

****England host Croatia ****at Wembley Stadium

One point away from progressing to the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, England‘s penultimate League A Group 3 fixture sees Croatia rock up to Wembley.

Thomas Tuchel has masterminded three straight triumphs in the tournament, whereas his opposite number Slaven Bilic has overseen three consecutive defeats, including the infamous 7-0 slaughter at the hands of the Three Lions.

Harry Kane, England

Hoisting the Nations League trophy aloft would not quite quell the excruciating pain of England’s World Cup 2026 semi-final exit – which Tuchel and his squad have supposedly now held frank discussions about – but the Three Lions are now almost certain to end their eight-year exile from the latter stages.

Since placing third in the inaugural 2018-19 edition, England have been limited to group-stage appearances in the Nations League – including a brief stint in the second tier in 2024-25 – but one draw from their final two games against Croatia and Spain will suffice for a spot in the last eight.

Tuchel’s charges have racked up 14 goals from their four games – also the most across all four tiers – while letting in just three at the other end, keeping three straight clean sheets since shipping a trio to Spain in September.

Furthermore, England have only ever failed to score in one Nations League game at Wembley – their 1-0 defeat to Denmark in 2020 – since when they have amassed 20 goals in seven matches under the arch.

The days of Croatia giving England a rough ride are over, and the Chequered Ones head to Wembley having kept just one clean sheet in their last 14 fixtures across all competitions.

in style.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Already qualified Spain host already eliminated Czech Republic

Already-qualified Spain will continue their 2026-27 UEFA Nations League campaign with a contest against already-eliminated Czech Republic.

La Roja are currently top of Group A3, three points ahead of second-placed England, while Czech Republic are fourth, losing all four of their matches in the section.

Fermin Lopez, Spain

There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a very difficult Nations League campaign for Czech Republic, who have lost each of their four matches in Group A3.

The Representatives started their 2026-27 campaign with a 2-1 home loss to Croatia, before going down 2-0 at home to England; a 3-1 defeat away to Spain followed, and the national team were then beaten 3-0 by England at Wembley last time out.

Czech Republic will travel to Croatia in their final game in the section on November 15, and it would be hugely disappointing for the national team if they finished the group without a point.

Spain, meanwhile, are safely through to the quarter-finals of the tournament, although they are not yet certain of top position at this stage of proceedings.

Spain have never lost to Czech Republic, winning six of their previous eight meetings and drawing the other two, so history would be created if the hosts triumph on Thursday.

Even without Yamal, Spain should be too strong for their opponents on Thursday – it has been a tough campaign for Czech Republic, and we are struggling to back them to secure a positive result here.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Belgium travel to Gursel Aksel Stadium**** to face Turkey****

Seeking to strengthen their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, Belgium travel to Gursel Aksel Stadium in Izmir to face Turkey in their penultimate League A Group 1 fixture.

Charles De Ketelaere, Belgium

While the hosts’ fate is all but sealed, the visitors currently sit third in the group and are playing catch up behind both France and Italy heading into their remaining two matches this week.

After finishing third in their group behind both France and Italy in the 2024-25 Nations League, Belgium are at risk of suffering the same fate this year having won two and lost two of their opening four matches in League A.

The September/October international break was the first time the Red Devils were in action under new head coach Mark van Bommel, who saw “beautiful things” from his players despite suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to France on matchday four.

Sitting one point behind Italy and four adrift of leaders France, Belgium know that a defeat in Turkey and an Azzurri win over Les Bleus would end their hopes of securing a top-two finish in the group.

However, collecting three points on Thursday would ensure that the group will be decided on the final matchday.

Boosted by the return of a few key players, the Red Devils should possess enough firepower to breach a leaky Turkish backline and are well-placed to claim three important points on the road.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Fixtures

Turkey 17:00 Belgium

Italy 19:45 France

League A – Group 3

Czech Republic 19:45 Spain

England 19:45 Croatia

League C – Group 1

Albania 19:45 Finland

San Marino 19:45 Belarus

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