The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League burst into action again on Thursday with some superb action and a couple of nasty surprises for two highly fancied teams.
With most of Europe’s top nations involved, Thomas Tuchel’s England the notable exception, France are expected to go deep into the competition, but a master-class from Croatia’s Ivan Perisic left Les Bleus hopes hanging by a thread. And elsewhere, in a battle for League A survival, France’s neighbours Belgium also had a night to forget.
Croatia vs France is a replay of the 2018 World Cup final, when Les Bleus became kings of the globe with a 4-2 victory. But Didier Deschamps’ team had something of a shock in the first half in Split as the Croats took their chances to go into the break with a two goal half time lead. Osasuna striker Ante Budmir broke the deadlock midway through the first half when he met a cross from Ivan Perisic and planted his header home. And then, in first half injury time, Perisic scored himself with a sweet strike into the bottom left corner. And there was bad news for Liverpool fans when France centre back Ibrahama Konate went off injured at the break.
Croatia take a two goal lead to France.
Italy at home to Germany was one of our picks of the big games during this international break and it was the Azzurri who drew first blood when Sandro Tonali, fresh from winning the Carabao Cup with Newcastle United, slotted home the opener with just nine minutes on the clock. Leon Goretzka twice came close to levelling for Germany but Italy held onto their lead until half time. Oliver Bauman had been busy in the Germany goal, making a superb save to keep out Moise Kean.
Germany levelled early in the second half when Tim Kleindienst headed a Joshua Kimmich cross into the bottom corner and, with 15 minutes to play Goretzka made it 2-1 to the visitors.
Netherlands at home to Spain was another of our SBOTOP picks of the ties to watch.
The pre quarter-finals UEFA Nations League 2025 betting odds installed La Roja as tournament favourites but Ronald Koeman’s Oranje gave them one heck of a game. After Barcelona star Pedri had teed up Nico Williams for an early Spain goal, Liverpool striker Cody Gakpo brought the Oranje level on the half hour, after good work from Bournemouth’s Justin Kluivert.
Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders had smashed a shot against the Spain crossbar but then, in the first minute of the second half, he gave the Netherlands a lead with a superb shot from outside the area, arrowed into the bottom left corner. Things became a little testy and more difficult for the Oranje when Jorrel Hato was sent off for serious foul play, and La Roja took advantage when Arsenal star Mikel Merino struck in the third minute of injury time to make it 2-2.
Denmark at home to Portugal was the last quarter final to come up with a goal. After Christian Eriksen had seen a penalty saved, his Manchester United team-mate saved his blushes when he slammed home the winner with just 12 minutes remaining.
Play-off woes for Belgium
In other UEFA Nations League 2025 news, the play-offs between the third placed teams and runners up featured some eye-catching clashes, and Austria vs Serbia was one we’re featuring, with a preview of the second leg. These two nations are battling for a place in League A where Serbia struggled, while Austria finished second in their group in League B. The first half of the contest in Austria was a hard fought affair and the hosts got their noses in front when veteran striker Marko Arnautovic headed down and Michael Gregoritsch lashed his shot into the top corner. Serbia hit back, mid way through the second half, when Lazar Samardzic fired a screamer from distance into the top right corner.
Elsewhere, Belgium finished third in Group A2, behind Italy and France, and they faced a play-off with League B’s Ukraine and it was Romelu Lukaku who gave the Red Devils a half time lead, heading home a cross from Kevin De Bruyne. The Manchester City man almost doubled the visitors’ lead but then Ukraine hit Belgium three times in 12 devastating minutes. First Oleksii Hutsuliak fired low into the corner on 66 minutes and then, on 73, Vladyslav Vanat turned the tie on its head from close range. And just five minutes later it was 3-1 when Illia Zabaranyi converted after good work from Oleksandr Zinchenko.
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