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A second international break of the season is upon us and this time there is a prize to be won in the form of the Uefa Nations League trophy.
This is the second edition of UEFA’s most recently created competition after Portugal were crowned inaugural winners after a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Porto in June 2019, after the Dutch had won beat England on penalties to reach the final.
The last four were made up of Italy, the Euro 2020 champion, and the No.1 Fifa team, Belgium, as well as Spain and France, with matches taking place in Milan or Turin. .
Each nation secured their place at this stage of the competition last fall after finishing first in their respective group in League A. Spain’s incredible 6-0 loss to Germany was the most successful result. stand out from the qualifying phase, while Belgium dominated their group containing Gareth Southgate. England.
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The winners will be presented with a sterling silver trophy and their presence in the bottom four has in theory helped their hopes of qualifying for the next World Cup as each team was drawn into a group of five rather than six to avoid game congestion.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of this week’s Nations League games.
How to watch the 2021 Nations League
Semi final 1: Italy 1-2 Spain
- Dated: Wednesday 6 October
- To start up: 7:45 p.m.
- Place: San Siro
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Flux: Now television
Semi-final 2: Belgium 2-3 France
- Dated: Thursday, October 7
- To start up: 7:45 p.m.
- Place: Juventus Stadium
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Flux: Now television
Match for third place: Italy vs Belgium
- Dated: Sunday 10 October
- To start up: 2 p.m.
- Place: Juventus Stadium
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Flux: Now television
Final: Spain vs France
- Dated: Sunday 10 October
- To start up: 7:45 p.m.
- Place: San Siro
- TV: Sky Sports Football
- Flux: Now television
Italy were bookmakers’ favorites to win it after their impressive form at Euro this summer, but suffered a surprise 2-1 loss to Spain. Manchester City striker Ferran Torres scored both goals but was eclipsed by Barcelona debutant Gavi, who became his country’s youngest player at just 17 years and 62 days old.
Belgium’s golden generation were considering a penultimate chance to win a trophy ahead of next year’s World Cup, but let a 2-0 lead slip away to fall 3-2 to France in an exciting match from start to finish in Turin. France hope to wear this form in Sunday’s final after falling well short of expectations at the Euro.
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If either game is tied after 90 minutes, an additional 30 minutes of overtime will be played, followed by penalties if the game is still tied. The losers of each semi-final will then play a match for third place on the same day as the final itself.
Teams can make five substitutes – in three separate windows – for 90 minutes with a sixth available if the game goes into overtime.
Who will win the 2021 UEFA Nations League?
- France – 8-11
- Spain – 11-10
* Odds via Skybet
Hernández seals frenzied comeback as France wins in see-saw battle
By Ian Winrow
Theo Hernández completed France’s spectacular comeback in the second half as Didier Deschamps’ side once again inflicted disappointment in the semi-final on Belgium to stage a Nations League final against the Spain Sunday.
Hernández’s 90th-minute goal settled a tie that seemed to have drifted off Deschamps’ side when they were led by goals from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku.
At halftime it seemed unlikely that the French would repeat their 2018 World Cup semi-final victory over Belgium, but they made a nice comeback, tying Karim Benzema and a penalty from Kylian Mbappé. – granted via VAR.
Roberto Martinez’s side then thought they forced the win in the 87th minute when Lukaku found the net only for VAR to spot the striker was offside, clearing the way for Hernández to eventually split the teams with a superb strike from 20 yards.
Revenge is sweet as Torres ends Italy’s race
By Ian Winrow
Ferran Torres helped Spain take revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final defeat with two goals that reserved his country’s place in the Nations League final.
Italy triumphed on penalties when the two sides met at Wembley three months earlier to become European champions.
However, their chances of setting up a repeat did indeed wane during a first half in which they lost captain Leonardo Bonucci to a 42nd-minute red card as they followed the Torres first goal in the 17th minute, the Manchester City forward adding his second in the first half timeout.
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Lorenzo Pellegrini’s late response rewarded Italy’s determined response in the second half, but Spain held on for a win that meant Roberto Mancini’s side suffered a first loss in three years and a first loss. in San Siro.
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