Favourites Delivers As England, France & Norway Triumphs In Nations League Campaigns

England secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League with a commanding 5-0 victory over the 10-man Republic of Ireland on Sunday. Four players celebrated their first international goals in the match.

Meanwhile, Adrien Rabiot made headlines by scoring twice in France’s win against Italy.

Erling Haaland scored a hat-trick to help Norway also top their group in League B.

Euro 2024 runners-up England claimed the top position in Group B2 in interim manager Lee Carsley’s final match before Thomas Tuchel takes over as head coach.

“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and be attacking,” Carsley told ITV.

“I can only do what I was in control of. It’s not a gamble with some of these players, they are excellent players.”

Greece finished second despite a 2-0 win over Finland in the other game in the group and will head into the playoffs in March.

In the first half at Wembley, England found it challenging to penetrate a determined Ireland defense, with Noni Madueke having two attempts blocked after making promising runs into the box.

The game changed shortly after the interval when Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham after a fine pass from Harry Kane, conceding a penalty and being sent off for a second bookable offense

Kane stepped up to slot his spot-kick past Ireland goalkeeper, Caoimhin Kelleher.

England doubled their lead in the 56th minute, as Tino Livramento’s deflected cross found its way to his Newcastle teammate Anthony Gordon who volleyed home his first international goal.

Carsley’s team scored their third goal in just five minutes when Conor Gallagher scored from a corner, converting a flick-on from Marc Guehi to mark his first goal for the national team.

Jarrod Bowen joined the party, sweeping home his first England goal with his first touch just seconds after coming on as a substitute.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis, on as a sub for his England debut, headed in Bellingham’s cross in the 79th minute to round off the scoring.

Rabiot downs Azzurri

France snatched the top spot in Group A2 from Italy with a 3-1 success at the San Siro.

Les Bleus were aware that a two-goal victory would secure them the top spot over Italy in what was essentially a dead rubber, as both teams had already qualified for the quarter-finals in March.

Rabiot headed in a second-minute opener from Lucas Digne’s corner.

Left-back Digne played a big part in France’s second goal in the 33rd minute as his excellent free-kick from long range struck the woodwork before hitting the back of Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario and bouncing in for an own goal.

Andrea Cambiaso swiftly responded for the hosts, but Adrien Rabiot expertly headed in another set-piece from Lucas Digne midway through the second half, celebrating his 50th appearance for France with a brace.

The other game in the group saw Israel beat an understrength Belgium 1-0 but fail to win by the three-goal margin they needed to avoid automatic relegation.

Haaland fires Norway into League A

Haaland showcased his incredible talent as Norway triumphed over Kazakhstan with a commanding 5-0 victory, securing the top spot in Group B3.

Meanwhile, Austria settled for a 1-1 draw against Slovenia.

The Manchester City star broke the deadlock, pouncing on a rebound in the 23rd minute.

Haaland nodded in his 37th international goal 14 minutes later, before Antonio Nusa added a Norwegian third of a dominant first half.

With 19 minutes left in the match, Haaland secured his fourth treble for Norway by skillfully maneuvering away from his defender at the edge of the box and driving a precise right-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Nusa scored again as Norway snatched automatic promotion from Austria, who conceded a late equalizer to Slovenia in Vienna.