Olise’s late strike sinks Belgium in Nations League; Italy rout Turkey 4-1

Michael Olise’s late goal gave France a 1-0 Nations League win over Belgium in Brussels on 28 September 2026, while Italy beat Turkey 4-1 in Bursa.

Zinedine Zidane made it two wins from two since being named France’s head coach. France were without Kylian Mbappé, who had returned to Real Madrid after injuring his left knee while scoring the winner against Turkey on Friday. Michael Olise was introduced from the bench late in the contest.

With the match goalless, Olise — sent on in the 77th minute for Bradley Barcola — set off from inside his own half and advanced to the edge of the Belgium area before curling a shot beyond the reach of Senne Lammens in the 88th minute. France had earlier threatened when Désiré Doué struck the bar in the first half and debutant Lucas Da Cunha hit a post early in the second half.

Italy recovered from an opening 2-0 loss to Belgium in Rome by thrashing Turkey 4-1 in a rainy Bursa. Three Italy goals arrived inside the first half-hour as the hosts were punished for defensive mistakes in and around a muddy goalmouth.

The first came when Zeki Celik’s swing at a low near-post corner deflected to Alessandro Bastoni, who fired into the roof of the net. After 23 minutes Altay Bayindir mishandled a cross-shot from Michael Kayode, sending the ball to Davide Frattesi to tuck home, and four minutes later Kayode was free on the right and his near-post shot eluded the goalkeeper.

Turkey pulled a goal back in the 47th minute when Gianluigi Donnarumma was drawn to Oguz Aydin beyond the far post and Aydin found Baris Yilmaz, who drilled into an empty net, but that revival lasted five minutes as Pio Esposito headed Italy’s fourth after Sandro Tonali struck a post. Pio and his older brother Sebastiano Esposito became the first brothers to start an Italy game together since Aldo and Luigi Cevenini in 1915.

In League B, Northern Ireland were held to a 0-0 home draw by Hungary after chances were missed, with Patrick Kelly twice going close in the first half — hitting the crossbar with a looping effort — and Isaac Price denied by Balázs Tóth late on. There were nervous moments late as Ruairi McConville blocked Willi Orban’s shot and Pierce Charles saved from Alex Tóth; Northern Ireland sit joint-top of their group alongside Ukraine, who drew 0-0 with Georgia in Tbilisi.

Sweden beat Poland 3-1 in Solna, Benjamin Nygren opening after eight minutes at the far post before Sebastian Szymanski levelled with a shot that hit both posts and went in; Yasin Ayari restored the lead and Victor Gyökeres added a third. Bosnia and Herzegovina are second in that group after a 4-2 win against Romania in Bucharest.

In League C, Aleksa Latkovic’s 89th-minute strike clinched a 3-2 win for Montenegro over Armenia to put them in charge of their group, while Latvia and Cyprus played out a 0-0 draw.

France sit top of Group A1 with six points and will host Italy at the Stade de France on Friday, while Belgium will entertain Turkey in Liège.