Nations League roundup: France held by Italy in Zidane’s home debut; Northern Ireland shock Ukraine
Zinedine Zidane’s first home match in charge of France finished 1-1 against Italy at the Stade de France on Friday in the Nations League, while Northern Ireland stunned Ukraine 3-0 in Trnava. Belgium also beat Turkey 3-0 in Liège as the international round produced a string of notable results.
Zidane’s home debut saw France take the lead through Michael Olise’s 55th-minute curling effort that went in off the crossbar following a short free kick by Rayan Cherki, before Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni levelled after running through and clipping a low shot inside the right post. Visiting goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma produced a series of saves that frustrated the Stade de France crowd, and France finished the match with 10 men after Dayot Upamecano was dismissed late on for a second yellow card.
Italy had earlier squandered chances, with Moise Kean missing a close-range effort by shooting straight at Mike Maignan, and Donnarumma made a double save from Ousmane Dembélé and Désiré Doué early in the second half. Moments after Italy’s equaliser the Italian keeper produced a brilliant low save to deny Adrien Rabiot, and he later had to claw away Eduardo Camavinga’s stoppage-time shot to secure a point. “We would have liked to win for our fans tonight but I was obviously really touched and delighted to be back at the Stade de France,” Zidane said afterwards. “I am happy with the performance albeit not with the result. We had chances to score a second goal and we didn’t do it. But I am really proud of my players.” Roberto Mancini said: “I think this was a great performance tonight against one of the best teams in the world, with very positive aspects to it,” he said. “We are on the right road, and we need to keep playing this way.”
Belgium’s 3-0 victory over bottom side Turkey in Liège left them a point behind France at the top of Group A1. Kevin De Bruyne, in his 127th match for Belgium, opened the scoring with a composed finish from the edge of the box after a one-two with Dodi Lukebakio and added a second in the 59th minute by curling into the top corner past Ugurcan Cakir. Romelu Lukaku completed the win in the 76th minute, turning in Charles De Ketelaere’s low cross.
Northern Ireland’s win in Slovakia was driven by Ciaron Brown’s brace either side of Isaac Price’s strike, with Brown the only member of Michael O’Neill’s starting XI over the age of 24 and earning his 33rd cap. The first goal arrived from a Kieran Morrison corner headed back into the danger area by Ruairi McConville for Brown to prod home despite Illia Zabarnyi’s efforts on the line, and Morrison’s first-time delivery later set up Price at the back post for the second. Brown’s second came after he flicked on Pierce Charles’ free-kick from inside the Northern Ireland half and Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk allowed the bouncing ball to slip through his legs, completing a 3-0 victory that put Northern Ireland on seven points from three games and still yet to concede going into Monday’s clash with Georgia in Belfast.
In the other Group B2 tie, Liverpool full-back Milos Kerkez scored the only goal as Hungary beat Georgia 1-0, moving the Magyars level with Ukraine in second place with four points from three matches. Edin Dzeko ended his international career during Bosnia and Herzegovina’s 1-1 draw with Sweden, having been withdrawn after 63 minutes of his 152nd appearance when Viktor Gyökeres had given Sweden the lead two minutes earlier; Kerim Alajbegovic equalised in the 80th minute.
Poland overwhelmed Romania 6-0 in Warsaw as Robert Lewandowski completed a hat-trick, converting a penalty after Radu Dragusin was sent off in the 22nd minute for bringing Lewandowski down in the area and then scoring in the 47th and 86th minutes. Piotr Zielinski and Jan Bednarek also scored, and a Virgil Ghita own goal rounded out the scoring. Elsewhere, the Faroe Islands drew 1-1 at home with Slovakia after Adrian Justinussen cancelled out a Gunnar Vatnhamar own goal, Moldova moved up to second in their group with a 2-1 win away to Kazakhstan, Vasilije Adzic scored twice as Montenegro won 2-1 in Latvia, and Cyprus beat Armenia 2-0 despite a second-half red card for Kostas Pileas.
France remain top of Group A1, one point ahead of Belgium; the two neighbours meet again on Monday at the Stade de France, Italy host Turkey in Bologna on Monday, and Northern Ireland travel to Belfast to face Georgia in their next group fixture.