Legend:
Cheer pose on, tongue out
Olivier Giroud is happy about the 2-0 win against Austria.
Keystone/AP Photo/Christophe Ena
- The French get their first win of this Nations League campaign with a 2-0 win at home against Austria.
- The Danes lost 2-1 to Croatia despite a dream goal from Christian Eriksen.
- In Group 4, the Netherlands beat Poland 2-0, which means they can no longer take the qualification for the final.
League A, Group 1: France can do it
- France – Austria 2-0
The French have achieved the longed-for liberation. In the fifth Nations League game, the Équipe Tricolore achieved their first victory. Against the Austrians, for whom Marko Arnautovic played his 103rd international match and drew level with record player Andreas Herzog, France was already the superior team in the first half – among other things, Austria’s goalie Patrick Pentz steered an overhead kick onto the crossbar.
But it was only after the break that goals were scored in Paris: Marcel Sabitzer couldn’t take the ball properly in the 56th minute, the home team took advantage of this and Kylian Mbappé scored to make it 1-0. A few minutes later, Olivier Giroud made it 2-0 with a header (65′). This puts France (5 points) ahead of Austria (4), but both teams are still worried about relegation. The decision about relegation will be made on Sunday when France travel to Denmark and the Austrians meet vice world champions Croatia.
- Croatia 2-1 Denmark
In Croatia, the Danes failed to make it clear that they would enter the final tournament early. The home team secured victory thanks to a lightning-fast joker goal: Lovro Majer, who had just come on as a substitute, scored the acclaimed 2-1 win for the Croatians with his first touch of the ball. They had previously taken the lead after a tepid first half through Borna Sosa (49′), Christian Eriksen equalized for Denmark with a dream goal from distance to make it 1-1 in the meantime. Thanks to the win, Croatia are now one point ahead of the Danes at the top of the table.
League A, Group 4: Netherlands almost through
- Poland – Netherlands 0:2
For the Netherlands, the starting position was ideal: If they won in Warsaw, the qualification for the final tournament could no longer be taken away from the team. And the Dutch delivered. In the 14th minute Cody Gakpo was concerned for the 1-0, after an hour Steven Bergwijn increased to 2-0. Poland played evenly, especially after the half-time whistle, but defended too unfocused in crucial situations. On the offensive, the team around Robert Lewandowski didn’t do enough to prevent the third defeat in five games.
The Belgians are the only team that could topple the Dutch on the last day of the game. The “Red Devils” kept that chance open thanks to a 2-1 home win over Wales. For the Belgians, Kevin de Bruyne and Michy Batshuayi were the formative figures: each scored once and hung up once for the other. The goal from Kieffer Moore (50th) made the game exciting again. However, it wasn’t enough for Wales to equalize. The Welsh are sitting on one point and face relegation.
League C, Group 1: spectacle in Turkey
- Turkey – Luxembourg 3:3
Turkey and Luxembourg delivered the most spectacular game of the evening. Three times the outsiders took the lead, three times the Turks found an answer. Slapstick actions were not neglected either. The Turkish defender Eren Elmali helped Luxembourg 1-0 when he outwitted his keeper himself. Marvin Martins just had to push in. On the other side, Maxime Chanot was the tragic figure. First he caused a penalty (16th), about twenty minutes later he scored his own goal. Thanks to the draw, Turkey is promoted back to League B.