Christopher Nkunku marked his return to international football by scoring his first goal for France at senior level as they beat Israel 4-1.
Nkunku had not played for Les Bleus since the summer of 2023 but having been called up by Didier Deschamps, he was thrust into the starting XI, selected on the left of the three behind striker Randal Kolo Muani. He watched on as Eduardo Camavinga’s early opener was cancelled out midway through the first half.
Shortly afterwards Nkunku, surrounded by three Israeli defenders, somehow fashioned a yard in the box and coolly slipped his finish past the keeper at the near post.
France dominated the possession and the shot count in Budapest, and added two further goals late on, after Nkunku had been withdrawn with 13 minutes left. His replacement Matteo Guendouzi scored the third, and Bradley Barcola added a fourth. It is France’s second victory in Nations League A Group 2. Wesley Fofana was an unused sub.
At Wembley, Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill started for England and Noni Madueke came on as the Three Lions were beaten 2-1 by Greece.
Palmer, initially deployed in a deeper role alongside Declan Rice in an attacking England XI, curled a free-kick just over early on.
On ten minutes, Greece came very close to opening the scoring after Jordan Pickford got himself in a muddle well out of his goal and lost possession. Only a superbly timed and executed goalline clearance from the retreating Levi Colwill stopped the Greeks going ahead.
Midway through the half, Palmer fired uncharacteristically over after Jude Bellingham teed him up, although replays showed the ball had somewhat unkindly kicked off the turf.
Greece were not underserving of their lead early in the second half, Vangelis Pavlidis wriggling away from several white shirts to fire past Pickford. The celebrations that followed paid tribute to George Baldock, the Greek international and former Sheffield United defender who tragically died yesterday.
Noni Madueke replaced the hobbling Bukayo Saka immediately after the goal and had a shot blocked early on having cut in from the right. He was soon switched to the other flank, with Palmer moving forward into a wide right position.
It was from that area of the pitch Palmer freed sub Ollie Watkins on the hour, but the Aston Villa man fired over. Another fine Palmer pass found Bellingham breaking beyond the Greek defence. His attempted lob was well off target.
However, Bellingham made no mistake with three minutes left, curling in from Watkins’ pass.
That was not the end of the scoring. In the fourth minute of time added on, Pavlidis bagged his second with England’s defence not covering themselves in glory trying to clear their lines. Lee Carsley’s side will attempt to return to winning ways in Finland on Sunday.
At youth level, Josh Acheampong came on for the final ten minutes of England Elite Team’s 2-1 win away to Italy. England’s 92nd-minute winner was scored by Max Dean, a recent opponent of ours for Gent. Max Merrick was an unused sub.
