The third matchday of the UEFA Nations League 2024-25 saw English interim manager Lee Carsley get stunned by Greece, while Portugal and France eased past their opponents. Let’s look at what went down in the Nations League matchday 3.
The third matchday of the UEFA Nations League 2024-25 saw a mix of expected and surprising results. England, under interim manager Lee Carsley, suffered a disappointing defeat to Greece, while Portugal and France cruised to victories over their opponents.
England’s interim manager, Lee Carsley, suffered a setback in his first competitive match as manager, losing to Greece. Portugal secured a comfortable victory over Poland, thanks to goals from Bernardo Silva and Cristiano Ronaldo. France eased past Israel with a convincing 4-1 victory, thanks to goals from Eduardo Camavinga, Christopher Nkunku, Mattéo Guendouzi, and Bradley Barcola. The win keeps France in second place in their group, behind Italy.
England Stunned By Greece
England’s interim manager Lee Carsley’s honeymoon period came to a screeching halt as Greece secured a deserved 2-1 victory at Wembley Stadium in the Nations League. The defeat was a major setback for England, who were considered favorites to win the match against the lower-ranked Greek side.
Vangelis Pavlidis’ brace secured the victory for Greece, who dominated much of the match. England’s defense struggled to contain Greece’s attacking players, and their midfield lacked creativity and cohesion. The defeat raises questions about Carsley’s ability to lead the England team, and it remains to be seen if he will be appointed as the permanent manager.
The Nations League match between England and Greece started with England dominating possession and creating several chances. However, Greece’s defense held strong, and the first half ended scoreless. In the second half, Vangelis Pavlidis broke the deadlock for Greece, with a great shot from close range. England had scored a goal through Jude Bellingham, but Greece ultimately secured the victory with Pavlidis’ winning goal in the 94th minute. Read the full report here.
France Dominate Israel
France’s victory over Israel in the UEFA Nations League was a convincing display of their offensive prowess, even without key players like Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappé. The team’s ability to score four goals against a weaker Israeli side demonstrated their attacking capabilities.
Despite their dominance in terms of possession and defensive solidity, France’s performance wasn’t without its flaws. Extended periods of inactivity, especially in the second half, prevented them from achieving a more dominant display. However, their overall performance was sufficient to secure a comfortable victory and solidify their position as a strong contender in the Nations League.
Belgium Recover From 2 Goal Deficit Against Italy
Belgium staged a remarkable comeback against Italy in their UEFA Nations League match on Thursday evening. Despite falling two goals behind within the first 24 minutes, Belgium managed to salvage a point thanks to goals from Maxime De Cuyper and Leandro Trossard. Italy’s advantage was reduced after Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off for a foul, and Belgium capitalized on their numerical superiority to claw their way back into the match. The final score of 2-2 leaves Italy at the top of the Nations League group, while Belgium and France are in second and third, respectively.
Dumfries Saves Netherland’s Day
Hungary almost cost one more upset in the UEFA Nations League as they almost defeated the Netherlands. Rolland Sallai broke the deadlock for Hungary as the Galatasaray winger was assisted by Zsolt Nagy. Although the Oranje dominated the possession, they had no luck in front of the goal. The Netherlands faced more challenges as Virgil van Dijk was shown a red card. Finally, Denzel Dumfries equalised for Ronald Koeman’s men. Netherlands is currently in 2nd position in League A Group 3, trailing behind Germany.
Portugal Cruise Past Poland With Ease
Portugal secured a 3-1 victory over Poland in their UEFA Nations League match on Saturday, extending their perfect record in the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo continued his impressive form, scoring his record-extending 133rd international goal.
The match saw an early goal from Bernardo Silva, followed by a rebound goal from Ronaldo after Rafael Leão’s shot hit the post. Poland managed to pull one goal back through Piotr Zielinski but ultimately succumbed to an own goal from Jan Bednarek in the closing minutes.
Portugal’s victory solidified their position at the top of Group A1, while Poland’s loss leaves them with three points from three games.
Other Nations League Results
League A
- Bosnia and Herzegovina 1:2 Germany
- Croatia 2:1 Scotland
- Spain 1:0 Denmark
- Serbia 2:0 Switzerland
League B
- Finland 1:2 Ireland
- Austria 4:0 Kazakhstan
- Norway 3:0 Slovenia
- Turkey 1:0 Montenegro
- Ukraine 1:0 Georgia
- Iceland 2:2 Wales
- Czechia 2:0 Albania
League C
- Latvia 0:3 North Macedonia
- Faroe Island 2:2 Armenia
- Estonia 3:1 Azerbaijan
- Slovakia 2:2 Sweden
- Lithuania 1:2 Kosovo
- Bulgaria 0:0 Luxembourg
- Belarus 0:0 Northern Ireland
- Cyprus 0:0 Romania
League D
- Moldova 2:0 Andorra
- Gibraltar 1:0 San Marino
To read more about the UEFA Nations League, click here.
