France held by Italy as Belgium and Northern Ireland win big
France drew 1-1 with Italy at the Stade de France on 2 October in Zinedine Zidane's first home game in charge. The point kept France top of Nations League Group A1, one point clear of Belgium. The Guardian
Michael Olise gave France the lead in the 55th minute. Rayan Cherki rolled a free-kick short into his path. Olise curled his shot in off the crossbar.
Italy hit back in the 68th minute. Defender Alessandro Bastoni drove a low shot inside the right post. The scores were level.
The finish was frantic. France defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off late for a second yellow card, which means two bookable offences and an automatic dismissal. Then, deep in stoppage time, Eduardo Camavinga thought he had won it. Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma clawed his shot away to hold the 1-1.
The Nations League is UEFA's competition for national teams, split into leagues with promotion and relegation. France came into this tie with momentum. Michael Olise had scored in the 88th minute to beat Belgium 1-0 on 28 September, while Italy had beaten Turkey 4-1 away the same night.
Belgium answered that defeat in Liege. They beat Turkey 3-0 at home to stay one point behind France. Kevin De Bruyne led them in his 127th international, a cap being an appearance for the national team.
He opened the scoring from the edge of the box after a crisp one-two with Dodi Lukebakio. He added his second in the 59th minute, curling the ball past Ugurcan Cakir into the top corner. Romelu Lukaku scored the third in the 76th minute, meeting Charles De Ketelaere's low cross from close range.
In League B, Northern Ireland beat Ukraine 3-0 in Trnava, Slovakia. The win took them to seven points from three games without conceding a goal. Next up are Georgia in Belfast. The Guardian
Ciaron Brown scored twice, either side of a goal from Isaac Price. Brown's opener came from a corner routine. Kieran Morrison delivered the corner. Ruairi McConville headed the ball back across goal. Brown applied the finish.
Price doubled the lead at the back post from Morrison's first-time ball. Brown then got his second from a Pierce Charles free-kick that slipped through the legs of Ukraine goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk. Three well-worked moves. Three goals.
What makes this stand out is the spread of feeling. France kept top spot but left Paris wanting more. Belgium found their punch again through an old leader. Northern Ireland left Slovakia with a result their travelling fans will sing about for a while.
