The two November meetings in Friborg against Bosnia-Herzegovina (on the 16th) and in Budapest against Hungary (on the 19th) will have the challenge of securing first place and the advantage of hosting the quarter-final return on March 23, 2025. , three days after an away match.
Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands remains on five points and now finds itself under threat from Hungary, also five points, who won in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-0). The duel in Amsterdam against the Magyars on November 16 promises to be decisive for second place in the quarterfinals of this group.
The Red Devils frustrated by the Blues: Belgium loses once again against France (1-2)
Germany and the Netherlands, two of the flagship nations of European football respectively quarter- and semi-finalists of the last Euro-2024, were neutralized in Amsterdam five weeks ago, with two goals on each side, and an advantage for each team (1-0 for the Dutch, 2-1 for the Germans).
For the shock return of this group 3 in Munich, the spectacle was less there than on the first leg, the fault of the extremely defensive Dutch. In a closed meeting dominated by the Germans, the light came from a set piece and a powerful strike from Jamie Leweling, one of the two novices in the Mannschaft jersey on Monday evening.
On a corner taken by Joshua Kimmich and taken by Tim Kleindienst, Leweling took the ball hard to slide it into the top corner. Replaced in the 87th minute by Robin Gossens, Leweling was able to enjoy an ovation from the 68,367 spectators at the Allianz Arena.
Baumann at the parade
This opening score rewarded the German domination during the first period. Leweling thought he had put his teammates on the right track in the second minute with a strike after a ball scratched by Serge Gnabry on a high press, but Kleindienst found himself very slightly in an offside position.
Little used, the German goalkeeper Oliver Baumann, also a novice at 34, perfectly repelled a strike from Donyell Malen in the 90th minute. A quarter of an hour earlier, he had seen a shot from Xavi Simons flirt with his crossbar.
The Mannschaft, eliminated in the quarter-final of “its” Euro-2024 by Spain (2-1 after extra time), approached this October international window deprived of five injured starters (Marc-André ter Stegen, David Raum, Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz and Niclas Füllkrug). Monday evening, she also had to do without Deniz Undav, author of a double on Friday, but victim of muscle pain and last minute withdrawal.
“Tedesco resignation”: some Devils supporters criticized the national coach against France
After a continuous decline since 2018 and having reached bottom last November after a catastrophic year 2023 (results at half-mast and coach dismissed in the middle of a rally), Germany is gradually recovering its head.
In four matches, the Germans won three times against Hungary (5-0) and the Netherlands (1-0), and in Bosnia-Herzegovina (2-1), and brought home a point from Amsterdam (2-2), achieving their best run in the continental competition launched in 2018 and which has never been successful for them until now.
Italy wins big against Israel and takes a big step towards the quarter-finals
Italy won its match against Israel on the 4th day of Group A2 of the Nations League, Monday in Udine. Mateo Retegui (41st, from the penalty spot), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (54th, 79th) and Davide Frattesi (72nd) scored the Italian goals, while Mohammad Abu Fani (66th) saved the honor for Israel.
We had to wait until the end of the first half to see Italy realize its great domination. A foul on Sandro Tonali allowed the Italians to obtain a penalty which Mateo Retegui coolly converted (41st). La Squadra doubled the lead thanks to a header from Giovanni Di Lorenzo from a free kick at the start of the second half (54th).
Israel then reduced the gap on a direct corner from Mohammad Abu Fani (66th). But Italy did not allow itself to be destabilized and regained its lead through Davide Frattesi (72nd). Di Lorenzo hit the nail on the head a few minutes later (79th).
With this victory, Italy maintains the lead of group A2 with 10 points. France (7 points) is second ahead of Belgium (4 points) and Israel (0 points). The Italians are only missing one point to validate their ticket to the quarter-finals.
Italy will play its last two group matches in November with a trip to Belgium, at the King Baudouin stadium (November 14) and the reception of France (November 17).
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