Teams advanced, secured promotions and suffered relegations as the 2024-25 Nations League returned with eight matches on Thursday.
Italy and France had the chance to reach the League A quarter-finals, which are expected to take place in March 2025.
Among the other crucial contests, Greece and England met again in Athens and North Macedonia hosted Latvia in League B.
Here are all of the Nations League results and scorers from the first night of Matchday 5 matches, as well as the permutations.
Belgium vs Italy: Tonali goal sends Italy through
Teams need to finish in the top two of their groups in League A to reach the quarter-finals, which Italy are assured of after winning in Belgium courtesy of Sandro Tonali’s 11th-minute strike from close range.
Wout Faes headed against a post during the second half but Belgium now cannot finish in the top two, with Tonali’s first international goal sealing a 1-0 win for the Azzurri.
France vs Israel: Bleus advance with stalemate
Few might have tipped Israel to win their first point of the campaign away to France but an inspired goalkeeping display by Daniel Peretz, including a late save from Warren Zaire-Emery, ensured a surprise 0-0 draw.
2020-21 champions France progressed to the quarter-finals because they now hold a six-point advantage over third-placed Belgium.
Greece vs England: Three Lions go top
Ollie Watkins struck early and Curtis Jones scored with a marvellous late backheel as England won 3-0 in Athens, their second coming through goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos’ own goal after Jude Bellingham’s shot hit a post.
Both sides are level on points before the final matchday on Sunday but the Three Lions have the better goal difference in the matches they have played against each other, which means that England will be promoted to League A if they match Greece’s result.
Republic of Ireland vs Finland: Visitors relegated
Finland have been relegated to League C and the Republic of Ireland are guaranteed to stay in League B after Evan Ferguson scored the only goal of the game in the 45th minute in Dublin.
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher preserved the hosts’ advantage by saving Joel Pohjanpalo’s penalties, awarded against Ferguson for handball. Both of new Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson’s wins in his first five matches in charge have come against Finland.
Kazakhstan vs Austria: Hosts go down
Austria will be promoted if they match Norway’s final result but Kazakhstan have been relegated to League C after suffering a 2-0 defeat in Almaty.
Ralf Rangnick’s side, who conclude their campaign at home to Slovenia, netted through a Christoph Baumgartner strike and Michael Gregoritsch free-kick.
North Macedonia vs Latvia: Lynxes promoted
Defender Nikola Serafimov scored the only goal in the 57th minute as North Macedonia sealed promotion to League B in Skopje.
Latvia have not won away since beating Liechtenstein in June 2022. Their hopes of avoiding relegation hinge on their home match against Armenia on Sunday.
Slovenia vs Norway: Haaland scores in win
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland was on the scoresheet alongside two goals from 19-year-old winger Antonio Nusa as Norway won 4-1 in Slovenia.
Jens Petter Hauge added their late fourth, although the hosts had drawn level for 23 minutes through Benjamin Sesko’s first-half penalty.
Armenia vs Faroe Islands: Penalty settles contest
The Faroe Islands earned their first win of the campaign and have their League C status in their hands after winning 1-0 in Armenia, whose trip to Latvia looks like being crucial to their prospects of staying up.
Left-back Viljormur Davidsen, of Faroe Islands Premier League club HB Torshavn, scored the decisive penalty in the 33rd minute in Yerevan.
