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The UEFA Nations League discussion

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Hungary forced to play game behind closed doors due to fan racism, let in 30,000+ under 14s, who boo England players taking the knee <a href="https://t.co/jt652RE310">pic.twitter.com/jt652RE310</a></p>— Sam Cunningham (@samcunningham) <a href="https://twitter.com/samcunningham/status/1533117613869518848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2022</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
The Republic of Ireland's Nations League campaign began in deeply disappointing fashion as they fell to a surprise defeat by Armenia in Yerevan.

Eduard Spertsyan scored the only goal, beating Republic keeper Caoimhin Kelleher with a rasping drive from distance 16 minutes from time.

Chiedozie Ogbene squandered the visitors' best chance, misjudging a free header in first-half injury time.

The result extends the Republic's winless run in the Nations League.

It is now 11 games without victory in the competition, having scored just two goals in the process, and with three difficult games against Ukraine and Scotland to come over the next 10 days in Group B1.

An eight-game unbeaten run prior to Saturday's match, including creditable draws at home to Portugal and Belgium, had lifted the mood around the Republic after a difficult start to Stephen Kenny's reign.

As it happened: Republic stunned by Armenia
However, this result will likely attract further criticism after Kenny's side were stunned by a team ranked 92nd in the world in a game that stirred memories of last year's embarrassing World Cup qualifying defeat by Luxembourg.

The Irish were expected to overpower an Armenia team that lost 9-0 to Norway in their last outing in March, but Kenny's side found the going tough against a resilient defensive unit led impressively by captain Varazdat Haroyan.

Having ridden waves of Irish pressure in the first half, Armenia appeared rejuvenated upon the resumption with the lively Tigran Barseghyan's goal ruled out after Hovhannes Hambardzumyan had strayed offside before supplying the assist.

Barseghyan also curled an effort just wide from distance but the Republic did not heed the warning and were punished when Spertsyan was given time to turn and shoot from 25 yards, his shot going in off Kelleher's right-hand post.

BBC
 
England's Nations League campaign got off to a losing start as a disappointing display brought a deserved defeat by Hungary in Budapest.

This international was billed as taking place behind closed doors as Uefa punishment for racist and homophobic behaviour by Hungary's fans during Euro 2020.

And yet it was played in front of a large crowd, consisting mainly of schoolchildren allowed in under Uefa rules - and the young supporters revelled in a poor England performance and Dominik Szoboszlai's winning goal from the penalty spot after Reece James fouled Zsolt Nagy.

The start of the game was overshadowed by loud jeering of England's players as they took the knee and what followed was a jaded, mediocre effort that carried all the hallmarks of the end of a long season.

West Ham's Jarrod Bowen worked hard on his debut but Leicester defender James Justin, also making his first appearance, suffered an injury and had to be replaced by Bukayo Saka - though the Arsenal man produced a rare England threat with a fine run and shot that Hungary keeper Peter Gulacsi saved with his legs.

England now move on to Munich, where they face Germany in their second Nations League A3 game on Tuesday.


BBC
 
anyone watch the england game, heard is was really boring and poor defensive negative tatics by southgate
 
This league is quite complex to understand and seems like a complete waste of time.
 
Come world cup, winners will come from France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina.
 
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Defending champions France have one point from two Nations League games after being held 1-1 by Croatia in Split.
 
1-0 to Germany after 50 minutes.

They’ve been the better team.

England are semi useful going forward but their defence looks clueless.
 
Poor performance from England.

Should have started with Grealish.
 
1-1 England.

Squeak a draw via a(nother) Kane penalty.
 
<b>Harry Kane scored his 50th England goal with a late penalty to earn a Nations League draw with Germany in Munich.</b>

Kane was fouled by Nico Schlotterbeck, with the spot-kick given by the video assistant referee, and the striker sent Manuel Neuer the wrong way.

Jonas Hofmann had opened the scoring, running on to Joshua Kimmich's pass before firing home.

This was England's first point in the 2022-23 Nations League, after they lost to Hungary in Saturday's opener.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61641920
 
The Germans have improved alot from last year's euros, I guess foden missing was a blow for England.
 
Manunited18 said:
The Germans have improved alot from last year's euros, I guess foden missing was a blow for England.
Click to expand...

England just want to get off to holiday . It’s been a long pressure season for most of the squad .

It’s a daft tournament, let all int fixtures be stopped in June. Nobody is going to remember who wins the nations league .

Although I agree Germany will be contenders . A lot of good teams in the World Cup but you never know England could do well esp as it won’t be too hot this time .
 
KingKhanWC said:
England just want to get off to holiday . It’s been a long pressure season for most of the squad .

It’s a daft tournament, let all int fixtures be stopped in June. Nobody is going to remember who wins the nations league .

Although I agree Germany will be contenders . A lot of good teams in the World Cup but you never know England could do well esp as it won’t be too hot this time .
Click to expand...

Yes, what's tempreture in Qatar in November December
 
European champions Italy beat Hungary 2-1 to move top of Nations League Group A3 - the group England are in.
 
Manunited18 said:
The Germans have improved alot from last year's euros, I guess foden missing was a blow for England.
Click to expand...

Yes, was quite a comfortable England win against Germany last time. The Germans were much improved last night. Although with a 1-1 drawn result it’s arguably England who go away the happier side.
 
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Joao Cancelo scored as Portugal beat the Czech Republic 2-0 to maintain their good start to the Nations League.

Pablo Sarabia scored the only goal as Spain deservedly beat Switzerland for their first win of the Nations League.

There seems to be no end to Northern Ireland's Nations League misery as a 3-2 defeat by Kosovo means they have now gone 13 games without a win in the competition.
 
<b>Nations League: 'Stage for England squad's World Cup auditions is huge'</b>

England's latest World Cup auditions may be taking place behind closed doors when they face Italy at Molineux on Saturday but the stage is huge for every member of Gareth Southgate's squad with eyes on Qatar in November.

The gallery will number just 3,000 spectators, mainly schoolchildren, as part of the punishment imposed on the Football Association for crowd trouble at the Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley last July.

And while the atmosphere in Wolverhampton will be surreal, the wider significance of this Nations League game will not be lost on Southgate or any of his squad, even though the manager himself admitted the fact England have to play in a largely empty stadium is "an embarrassment".

The loss on penalties in England's first major final since the 1966 World Cup win left a bitter aftertaste but now there are many players hoping this Nations League game can smooth a pathway to the next showpiece in November.

Southgate and his squad will be in more buoyant mood after captain Harry Kane's 50th England goal gave them a point in a 1-1 draw in Germany on Tuesday, after the mediocrity of defeat in Hungary last weekend.

He is working on formations as well as finding his best team to start the World Cup opener against Iran in November.

The late start to the World Cup is also shifting the emphasis of selection, with Premier League form, as well as fitness, in the opening months of next season now a factor.

Southgate played a 4-2-3-1 system in Germany, a variation on his trusted three-man central defence with wing-backs employed so often in the past.

This flexibility with shape will also create opportunities for personnel, making the meeting with Italy and the return with Hungary, this time at a sellout Molineux on Tuesday, vital.

As England prepare to face the side who left the nation heartbroken last summer, there are players within the current squad hoping to build on good impressions, while there are others still hoping to make an impact.

Manchester City's Jack Grealish will fall into the first category after an explosive 18-minute cameo in Munich where he tormented Germany. He will want to do the same against Italy.

Grealish seemed to have a fight on his hands initially to win Southgate's trust and his 22 England caps have been split evenly between starts and appearances as a substitute. He has scored one goal, with six assists.

He looked a player full of confidence against Germany, even admitting himself he occasionally feels he performs with more freedom with England than Manchester City.

Southgate said: "He had a fantastic impact against Germany. He's a player we love working with. He's got great mentality, great character. He's a really good guy to have around the group. He has that joy when he has a football at his feet."

Kane's desire to play every game as he closes in on Wayne Rooney's record of 53 international goals may not be satisfied totally in the remaining two matches of this break but with four games to go before the opener in Qatar, he could still be in the history books by the time he leads Southgate's team out for another tilt at the trophy.

Tammy Abraham will be desperate to get his chance and will certainly be well-acquainted with Italy after scoring 27 goals in a hugely successful first season under Jose Mourinho at Roma, winning the Europa Conference League.

Southgate will have many of his side fixed in his mind but the difference this time around is that 'bolters' - the latecomers who stake their claim - have longer to make an impression.

If the World Cup was in its normal calendar, these games would be part of the final build-up. Now they are competitive fixtures in their own right, with form and fitness also given a longer timespan to be factored in.

Southgate has decisions to make in terms of shape and the players who fit, meaning much rides on these games for many while the September Nations League fixtures against Italy in Milan and at home to Germany provide the perfect platform for the final fine tuning.

West Ham's Jarrod Bowen will be pleased with his arrival on the England stage as one of the few successes in Budapest and then as an influence, even though he only had 10 minutes, in Munich.

Southgate has his trusted lieutenants such as captain Kane, Harry Maguire and John Stones in defence, with keeper Jordan Pickford the undisputed number one.

He reverted to his Euros central midfield of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice in Germany while Raheem Sterling was also back.

He will not be giving away any secrets but Southgate's World Cup plans have been long in the making.

England's manager will have a clear direction in mind before they take on the challenge in Qatar in November, hoping very firmly the early weeks of the Premier League season do not claim any injury casualties.

This does not mean there is not time for someone to play their way in - or out - of his strategy, meaning the meeting with Italy carries a weight of importance.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61764890
 
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Kylian Mbappe rescued France a point in Austria as the world champions remain winless in the Nations League.
 
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England's winless start to their Nations League campaign continued as an experimental Three Lions side failed to break down European champions Italy in a goalless draw at Molineux.

Memphis Depay missed an added-time penalty as Netherlands fell short of completing a famous fightback in a Nations League 2-2 draw against Poland.

Brennan Johnson's first international goal earned Wales a dramatic point against Belgium in the Nations League at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Germany came back from a goal down to draw 1-1 against hosts Hungary in the Nations League.

The Republic of Ireland claimed a maiden Nations League win at the 13th time of asking as they saw off Scotland 3-0 in surprisingly comfortable fashion in Dublin.
 
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Spain saw off the Czech Republic 2-0 at La Rosaleda Stadium in Malaga to move into top spot in Nations League Group A2.

Haris Seferovic scored the fastest goal in the Nations League's short history to give Switzerland a 1-0 victory over Portugal in Group A2.

Erling Haaland continued his prolific international form with two goals as Norway beat Sweden 3-2 in an entertaining Nations League Group B4 encounter.

A 93rd-minute equaliser by Jonny Evans salvaged a 2-2 draw for Northern Ireland with Cyprus but the result stretched the home side's winless run in the Nations League to 14 matches.
 
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France's hopes of retaining the Nations League title are over after a 1-0 home defeat by Croatia which means they cannot reach next year's finals.
 
<b>England 0-4 Hungary</b>

England's dismal Nations League campaign continued as they slumped to their worst home defeat since 1928 against a ruthless Hungary to leave Gareth Southgate's side rooted to the bottom of Group A3.

The Three Lions have now gone four games without a victory for the first time since 2014 and look worryingly out of form and confidence with a World Cup looming at the end of this year.

Roland Sallai put the visitors in front with a well-taken finish at the back post, then doubled Hungary's lead with his second on the break 20 minutes from time.

There was more to come from a rampant Hungary, as Zsolt Nagy fired in from range and Daniel Gazdag finished smartly to wrap up a second historic win over England in 10 days.

Jarrod Bowen had earlier missed a decent chance at the back post from Reece James' cross and Harry Kane flicked a header against the bar, but the hosts once again lacked the belief and inventiveness to open up their opposition.

Hungary - who top a group that also includes Germany and Italy - were well organised and clinical to earn only their second win over the Three Lions on English soil and first since a famous 6-3 success at Wembley in 1953.

BBC
 
England's dismal Nations League campaign continued as they slumped to their worst home defeat since 1928 against a ruthless Hungary to leave Gareth Southgate's side rooted to the bottom of Group A3.

Germany became the first team to score five goals in a game against Italy since 1957 in a Nations League demolition in Monchengladbach.

The Netherlands finished their international window with a dramatic hard-fought 3-2 Nations League win over Wales at the Stadion Feijenoord.

Nathan Collins' superb strike helped the Republic of Ireland to a 1-1 Nations League draw against Ukraine in Poland.

Scotland recovered from a rocky start to revive their Nations League hopes by cruising to a 4-1 victory against hosts Armenia who finished with nine men.
 
FT: Hungary 0-2 Italy

All over in Budapest.
Goals from Giacomo Raspadori and Federico Dimarco give Italy a 2-0 win over Hungary and puts them through to next year's finals.
They join Croatia and the Netherlands. Portugal and Spain will battle for the final spot tomorrow.
 
Alvaro Morata grabbed a dramatic winner as Spain beat Portugal in Braga to qualify for the Nations League Finals.
 
Spain have been drawn against Italy in the Nations League semi-finals, while hosts the Netherlands will face Croatia.

The ties will be played 14-15 June and the third-place play-off and final on 18 June, with all matches in Rotterdam or Enschede.

Spain beat Italy 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 2021 edition of the competition, before losing to France in the final.

The Netherlands were beaten finalists in 2019, hosts Portugal winning 1-0.

Finals draw
*all kick-off times BST

Semi-finals

Netherlands v Croatia, 19:45, 14 June, De Kuip, Rotterdam

Spain v Italy, 19:45, 15 June, FC Twente Stadium, Enschede

Third-place play-off

Netherlands/Croatia v Spain/Italy, 14:00, 18 June, FC Twente Stadium, Enschede

Final

Netherlands/Croatia v Spain/Italy, 19:45, 18 June, De Kuip, Rotterdam
 
Croatia stun Netherlands to reach Nations League final

Croatia are one win from their first major title after beating hosts the Netherlands in a dramatic Uefa Nations League semi-final.

Substitute Bruno Petkovic struck from distance in extra-time before Luka Modric's penalty settled a remarkable game in Rotterdam.

A 96th-minute Dutch equaliser from Noa Lang had denied Croatia in normal time.

But Zlatko Dalic's side will now play Italy or Spain in Sunday's final, while the Dutch face a third-place play-off.

"It's a victory for the Croatian people, we beat the Netherlands in front of their fans, Croatia has one more medal," Dalic told Croatia's Nova TV afterwards.

"It's impossible, unreal, but she deserves it. Surely this is a victory which will go down in history."

Croatia had seemed destined for the final when Andrej Kramaric's penalty and a Mario Pasalic volley put them ahead after Donyell Malen's opener.

But Lang's last-gasp hooked finish levelled the game at 2-2.

Croatia, though, picked themselves up and Petkovic - introduced at the start of extra-time - slammed a fine strike past the Netherlands keeper Justin Bijlow.

Their victory was sealed by 37-year-old talisman Modric from the penalty spot with four minutes left, after he was felled by a clumsy Tyrell Malacia challenge.

It means Croatia have reached just their second international final, following the 2018 World Cup where they were beaten 4-2 by France.

"We have bronze and silver, let's go for gold so that we can finish this story," added Dalic.

For the Dutch, their international trophy drought now extends to beyond 35 years - they have not won a major title since the 1988 European Championships.

It also continues Ronald Koeman's inauspicious start to his second spell as the Netherlands manager, having lost 4-0 to France in a Euro 2024 qualifier in March.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65906729
 
Joselu sends Spain to Nations League final

Joselu scored a late winner as Spain beat Italy 2-1 to set up a Nations League final against Croatia on Sunday.

Yeremy Pino won the ball off Italy legend Leonardo Bonucci outside his own box before firing in Spain's opener in Enschede, Netherlands.

Ciro Immobile equalised for Italy with a penalty after Spain debutant Robin le Normand handled in the box.

Substitute Joselu pounced from close range after Rodri's deflected shot to send Spain to the Rotterdam final.

It continues the remarkable late-career rise of Espanyol striker Joselu.

The 33-year-old only made his international debut in March and has now scored three goals in three appearances.

He was the third top scorer in La Liga this season with 16 goals, only behind Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Real Madrid's Karim Benzema, despite his team being relegated.

Joselu has come a long way since netting four goals in 22 Premier League games for Stoke and then six in 46 league games for Newcastle before returning home in 2019.

He now has a chance to claim his first winner's medal on Sunday.

Spain, who lost the 2021 Nations League final to France, face a Croatia side bidding to win their country's first international trophy.

Italy must face the Netherlands, who lost to Croatia in the other semi-final, in a third-placed play-off earlier that day.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65922637
 
Spain win Nations League final on penalties

Croatia missed out on their first international trophy after losing on penalties to Spain in the Nations League final.

Dani Carvajal calmly chipped home the winning effort to seal a 5-4 victory on spot-kicks after Unai Simon had saved from Bruno Petkovic.

The contest in Rotterdam had finished goalless after extra time.

It is Spain's first international trophy for 11 years, since their victory at Euro 2012.

"We're so happy, it was a really tough game and this is so difficult to do," said Spain midfielder Rodri, who was named man of the match and for whom this trophy follows winning the Treble with Manchester City and scoring the winning goal in the Champions League final.

Rodri thinks this could be the start of another succession of Spanish titles, with the squad featuring several exciting young players including Gavi, Ansu Fati and Yeremy Pino.

"This generation promises a lot. We were very strong mentally. There are things to improve, but winning is always good - we have to celebrate," he said.

Victory also means Spain become the second nation to win the World Cup, European Championship and Nations League following France, who beat the Spanish in the 2021 Nations League final.

They could have won the shootout earlier after Simon saved from Lovro Majer, only for Aymeric Laporte to slam Spain's fifth penalty off the crossbar.

It did not matter, however, as Simon kept out the subsequent effort from Petkovic, allowing Carvajal to be the hero.

"For us it was a unique opportunity, we went out early in another tournament and today we had to take advantage," Real Madrid defender Carvajal told Spanish broadcaster TVE.

He was referring to the 2022 World Cup, where Spain suffered a shock last-16 exit at the hands of Morocco via a shootout where they failed to score a single penalty.

Carvajal added: "We had confidence with the penalties and it went well, I knew how I was going to shoot it, and I knew I was going to be sixth. I wanted to take it 'Panenka' style and it went well."

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65944659
 
Heartbreak for Croatia, but I they are hear to stay at the top imo. Their great spells they had in 1998, 2018, 2022 WC and this UEFA Nations League will continue.

I think they will become a Portugal, Netherlands Level Team Soon.

And I also think they have a good chance to win next years Euros, even though some of their golden generation players are getting old or retired
 
England defender Harry Maguire is back in the team after missing Euro 2024 through injury

And he's been speaking to ITV about the impact Lee Carsley has had on the Three Lions.

He said: "He's been really impressive.

"There have been a lot of new faces, new voices, but it's been an enjoyable week, and now we have to go and do the business and get three points."

talkSPORT
 

'A lot to learn' as NI not pitch perfect in Bulgaria​


"We have to learn from it, pick ourselves up and go again."

That was the direct message from Conor Bradley after Northern Ireland's 1-0 defeat by Bulgaria in the Nations League on Sunday.

After a difficult few years, things had been looking up for Northern Ireland with four wins in their previous six matches.

In fact, their only defeat in that time had come at the hands of Spain, who went on to win Euro 2024 a few weeks after powering past Michael O'Neill's young team.

Thursday's win over Luxembourg at Windsor Park only only added to the belief and confidence, but that momentum was halted in Bulgaria on a warm Sunday evening.

The hosts were on top from the first whistle, and after twice striking the post they were gifted a deserved lead when goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell played a loose pass to Daniel Ballard, which led to captain Kiril Despodov tapping into an empty net five minutes before the break.

While Northern Ireland improved after the half-time break and piled on plenty of late pressure, they could not find the decisive moment to try and score an equaliser.

"In the second half I thought we played really well. We know the first half wasn't good enough," said Liverpool full-back Bradley.

"We didn't keep the ball well enough and we kept giving away free-kicks. We brought the pressure on ourselves. There's a lot to learn from it."

After the departure of several experienced players over the past 12 months, excitement had started to build around the young group of players that O'Neill has assembled.

O'Neill, in his second spell as manager, had warned defeats were inevitable as they continued to learn on the international stage. It's all part of the process.

"There's a learning curve in every game and when we look back at this we can take the positives from it," said Paddy McNair, who was the second-oldest member of O'Neill's team at the age of 29.

"In the second half they didn't really have a chance at all and we were on top. Overall, I don't think there was too much wrong with it but we didn't really have that cutting edge."

Bradley echoed those thoughts and added it was important that Northern Ireland have to "make sure we don't give teams a start on us".

"Giving away goals, for example," Bradley said on what Northern Ireland would learn from the game.

"Bulgaria were a strong team, to be fair. They were very physical and we knew it was going to be difficult.

"I think every away game in international football is difficult. We're disappointed we didn't get a point, if not three, but we'll learn from it and go again."

The stifling heat in Plovdiv wasn't the only issue for Northern Ireland. The surface at the Stadion Hristo Botev was more akin to the end of a rugby match than an international football pitch.

It was cutting up in the early stages of the game as players struggled to complete passes and bring the ball forward.

It only got worse as the match progressed, as clumps of turf gathered on the surface.

When asked about the pitch after the match, defender McNair went as far as saying it was "awful".

Manager O'Neill added that it was as poor as he had seen "in a long time" and felt it wasn't acceptable.

Bradley was slightly more diplomatic in his response, as the smirk on his face told as much about his feelings as his words.

"I've played on better, definitely," he said.

"There's no excuses. The pitch wasn't great but both teams had to play on it."

The challenge before Sunday's match was for Northern Ireland to try and build upon the momentum they have worked so hard to generate.

A narrow defeat away by a physical team in difficult conditions is unlikely to knock the confidence of the team too far. A bump in the road, if you will, rather than derailing progress.

But now, as attentions switch to the next window, the challenge for O'Neill's young team will be to make sure the defeat in Plovdiv was a one-off and their progression continues in a positive trajectory.

Bradley is adamant that will be the case.

Next up, Northern Ireland face Belarus on 12 October, which will be played in Hungary due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

"We know it is going to be difficult but I have full confidence already," added Bradley.

"We have a good bit of momentum from the game so we just have to keep that going."

In the second game of the window, Northern Ireland have the chance to get back at the Bulgarians, who travel to Belfast on 15 October.

"Hopefully we can do them back," Bradley said.

"They will be a difficult game, even at home, but hopefully we can get some revenge.

"We aren't out of the group yet and the win the other night was good for us, so we're not done yet."

www.bbc.com

Bulgaria 1-0 Northern Ireland: 'A lot to learn' as NI not pitch perfect in Nations League

Conor Bradley says there is a "lot to learn" as Northern Ireland fall to a 1-0 defeat in Bulgaria in the Nations League.
www.bbc.com
 

Taylor added to long Scotland injury list​


Celtic defender Greg Taylor will miss Scotland's Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal.

The left-back, 26, was absent for Sunday's win at Ross County after suffering a calf injury in the midweek Champions League defeat by Borussia Dortmund.

Taylor, capped 14 times, also withdrew from the squad for the opening defeats to Poland and Portugal in this campaign.

Head coach Steve Clarke was already without 10 players through injury and there are doubts over Angus Gunn.

The Norwich City goalkeeper was withdrawn at half-time against Hull City on Saturday after taking a heavy knock to the ribs.

Vice-captain John McGinn is among those unavailable, with Nicky Devlin, Liam Lindsay and Andy Irving all called up for the first time.

Scotland visit Zagreb on Saturday before hosting Portugal three days later.

Portugal lead Group A1 on six points, with Croatia and Poland both on three and Scotland yet to get off the mark.

www.bbc.com

Nations League: Celtic's Greg Taylor joins Scotland injury list

Celtic defender Greg Taylor will miss Scotland's Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal this month, and goalkeeper Angus Gunn is a fitness doubt.
www.bbc.com
 
England were given a footballing lesson by the Greeks tonight. All summer England fans were crying for attacking football with all the so called superstars not been given a chance. Well tonight Carsley let the handbrake off which well and truly exposed Hugh gaping holes in the England side which the Greeks time and time again exposed. Rice and Foden were truly awful in Midfield and the defence was non existent
 
UK police to investigate treatment of England fans

UK police will investigate claims Greek police in Athens used riot shields and tear gas on England supporters before the Nations League match with Greece.

Officers from the United Kingdom Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) were at the game and "actively worked" with local authorities to help "influence a change of tactics".

The Football Supporters' Association (FSA) is asking fans to share their experiences, external of the situation that unfolded outside of the Athens Olympic Stadium on Thursday.

Free Lions, the FSA's fans' embassy team, said there is "still clearly so much needed" to ensure fans are not put in "unjustifiably dangerous situations".

In a statement to BBC Sport, the UKFPU said: "A team of officers from the UKFPU were present at the match in Greece and we are aware of the difficulties that some fans experienced when attempting to enter the stadium.

"Officers actively worked with their counterparts to influence a change of tactics and, following the match, an investigation will now take place in partnership with the FA and FSA."

The Football Association said it is obtaining information to establish what happened.

About 3,500 England supporters travelled to the Greek capital for the sold-out fixture but some complained of being "pushed" and receiving "heavy-handed" treatment from local police.

The FSA said Uefa, European football's governing body, has also been informed.

BBC Sport has contacted Uefa for comment.

One fan, Mark, wrote on X, external the treatment was "completely unnecessary" but added "unfortunately you come to expect it following England".

Another user said, external local officers were "funnelling hundreds of fans (including children) into a few entrances" then became aggressive when "there was a squeeze".

"Despite being told how things would operate in advance, to see the exact opposite occur in some cases, and to see the treatment of our fans by local police using shields and tear gas to do something as simple as rearrange a queue, is so incredibly frustrating," Free Lions wrote on X.

"On a night where we had a great result on the pitch, there is still clearly so much needed to do off it to ensure our supporters aren’t put in unjustifiably dangerous situations."


BBC
 
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