Today’s UEFA Nations League Previews

France, Italy** go toe to toe in Group 1**

Two football heavyweights will go toe to toe on Friday, as old foes France and Italy reconvene for a UEFA Nations League contest in Paris.

After both won their second game earlier this week, the pair will continue their League A Group 1 campaigns at Stade de France, where the hosts’ coach seeks a triumphant return.

With two wins from two away fixtures so far, it has been an almost flawless start to Zinedine Zidane‘s reign as France manager.

Now set for a home double-header, Zidane is sure of a warm reception in Paris, where he will fittingly face Italy on Friday night.

While his French counterpart has waited for years to finally take the top job, Roberto Mancini is getting a second crack at leading the Azzurri.

The Euro 2020-winning boss began his second spell as national coach with a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to Belgium, but a rejuvenated side then thumped Turkey 4-1 on Monday.

Having got off the mark, Mancini must continue building towards the next Euros via this Nations League campaign, following in the wake of Italy’s latest World Cup qualifying disaster.

Although Italy showed much more spirit and fluency in their second Group 1 game, they now face a significant step up in class.

France may have been restricted to one-goal wins so far, but the Zidane era has started promisingly, and even without Mbappe they have enough nous to beat the Azzurri.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

**Belgium **to return to winning ways when they host Turkey

Belgium will be aiming to return to winning ways in the UEFA Nations League when they continue their 2026-27 campaign at home to Turkey on Friday evening.

The hosts are currently second in Group 1 of League A, three points behind the leaders France, while Turkey are fourth, having lost their opening two games in the tournament.

Youri Tielemans, Belgium

Belgium opened their Nations League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Italy, but they will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat to France.

The Red Devils are second in Group 1 of League A on three points, three points behind the leaders France, and they have two more matches during this international period, following this game with a clash against France (A) on October 5.

Mark van Bommel‘s side have made a positive start to their Nations League campaign given the strength of the opposition.

Belgium have always featured in League A of this competition, and their best-ever performance in the tournament came in 2020-21, when they finished fourth.

The Red Devils have faced Turkey on 11 previous occasions, boasting a record of three wins, five draws and three defeats against their opponents on Friday night.

Turkey’s last two games against Belgium came during qualification for Euro 2012, with the former winning the home fixture 3-2, before the reverse game ended in a 1-1 draw.

Belgium have only actually won one of the last seven matches between these two sides, which is a record that will hand Turkey some confidence ahead of the contest.

Turkey are certainly good enough to make this a difficult match for Belgium, but we are expecting the hosts to ultimately navigate their way to all three points.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Hungary and Georgia lock horns in Group 2

Hungary and Georgia will continue their respective UEFA Nations League campaigns with a contest at Puskas Arena in Budapest on Friday evening.

The hosts are currently third in Group 2 of League B on one point, while Georgia are fourth in the section, also boasting one point from their first two matches.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgia

Hungary opened their 2026-27 Nations League challenge with a 1-0 defeat to Ukraine on September 25, before playing out a goalless draw away to Northern Ireland last time out.

One point from two matches has left Marco Rossi‘s side third in Group 2 of League B, showing the importance of this clash, which comes ahead of their second game against Ukraine on October 5.

The Tricolours were in League A in both the 2022-23 and 2024-25 tournaments, but their relegation last time out has seen them drop into League B for 2026-27.

Hungary have won 10, drawn eight and lost 10 of their 28 previous matches in the Nations League, scoring 29 times in the process and conceding 33.

National Eleven have faced Georgia on two previous occasions, with both of those games taking place during qualification for the 2022 World Cup.

Georgia were 3-1 winners over Hungary in their last game in September 2001, but the reverse fixture was won by National Eleven – a 4-1 success on home soil.

Both teams will be hoping that their major players step forward in this match – it is likely to be a close game, with the points potentially being shared in a low-scoring draw.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Bosnia-Herzegovina & Sweden in top of the table clash

Bosnia-Herzegovina and Sweden meet in the UEFA Nations League on Friday night in what is a battle between the top two in Group B4.

While the home side will be delighted with four points from their opening two matches, the visitors have secured back-to-back victories.

Viktor Gyökeres, Sweden

Despite having taken Sweden to the World Cup, Graham Potter still has work ahead if he is to fully convince the nation’s fans that he is the right man for the job.

However, the Englishman seems well on the way to a long reign with the Scandinavian nation having started this Nations League campaign with two wins in a row.

A 2-1 triumph over Romania was followed by a 3-1 victory against Poland on Monday, leaving Sweden top of the group.

While Sweden are yet to keep a clean sheet in any of Potter’s 12 matches in charge, the only game they have not found the back of the net is the 3-0 defeat to France in the last 32 of the World Cup.

Viktor Gyokeres, who has a point to prove after finding himself out of favour at Arsenal, has scored in both of the recent Nations League matches.

Bosnia-Herzegovina came away from the World Cup disappointed to bow out at the last-32 stage to the United States.

Nevertheless, bouncing back with a goalless draw in Poland and 4-2 victory in Romania represents a strong bounce-back for a team that are developing positively under Sergej Barbarez.

With nine goals already been scored between them, this should prove to be an entertaining encounter.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

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