UEFA Nations League 2024/2025

[Trollheart]

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v Faroe Islands
Skonto Stadium, Riga
Result: Latvia 1 - 0  Faroe Islands
Wouldn't have expected a rain of goals here, and in fact there was just the one. A few shots all right, but it took till the second half before Latvia scored - suspicion of handball but not given. The Faroes came close to levelling twice, but the game ended in a victory for the East Europeans.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
North Macedonia v Armenia
Tose Proeski Arena, Skopje
Result: North Macedonia 2 -  0 Armenia
Not a good omen, you would have thought, for North Macedonia when one of your men is sent off just before the end of the first half, but they came back and even with ten men were able to score from a great free kick on 70 minutes, eight minutes later they had their second and Armenia must have been embarrassed to have been trounced by a ten-man side.

League C, Group 4 Table/u]
That victory put North Macedonia top of the table with 4 points, Armenia below them at second with 3 points, also with three points and at third place Latvia, with the Faroe Islands isolated (sorry) down there at the foot of the table with just the one point.

[Trollheart]

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Andorra v Malta
Estadi Nacional, Andorra la Vella
Result: Andorra 0 - 1 Malta
As you might probably expect in a game between minnows, nothing much happened here until the last minute of the first half, when Malta scored, taking the game.

League D, Group 2 Table
Moldova top the table with 3 points, Malta now second also with 3 points and Andorra down there in last with nary a point to their name.

[Trollheart]

Okay that's it for now. See you in October.

[Trollheart]

A month later and we're back with the surviving teams, all of whom hope to go through to the quarter-finals, and this week's matches will decide who does progress.

Day One

League A , Group 2 (A2)
Israel v France
Bozsik Arena, Budapest
Result: Israel 1 - 4 France

Already destined for relegation to League B after coming last in the League A table, Israel faced a tough game against world-champions France, who, despite their pedigree, have failed to shine in this tournament as they would have expected to, yielding top place to a perhaps lucky Italy. No Mbappe for France but they were still ahead on six minutes when the keeper failed to hold the ball and it squirmed past him. Won't want to see that one again! Israel were level on the 24th minute, but their lead lasted four minutes and again it was France who were ahead. They placed the seal on it in the final minutes when they netted their third and fourth in the 86th and 88th minute respectively.

League A , Group 2  (A2)
Italy v Belgium
Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Result: Italy 2 - 2 Belgium

Despite topping the table, nobody could say Italy deserve to be there, but some last-minute fireworks in their performances last time can't be denied and they now sit at the head of League A, while Belgium, who very definitely failed to impress, need to do much better, occupying third place in the "Group of Death" and looking at the possibility of being themselves relegated if they lose the upcoming play-off match. Interesting to see De Bruyne didn't bother this time; he certainly seemed very frustrated with his team last round, as if he was the one carrying them, which he kind of was. How would they do without him, and also without Lukaku?

Italy scored in the first minute, almost saved but a stumbling header had the ball in the goal. 22 minutes later and Italy had a second, Belgium looking very ordinary. However as the half wound down a yellow card turned to red and Italy were one man down, the resultant free kick allowing Belgium to claw one back before the break. Was this the beginning of a fight back against ten men? Still 45 minutes and extra time to go. And indeed on 61 minutes the Belgians were level, Italy finding it hard to keep them back with a man short. Belgium went in search of the winner, their confidence surely rising now, but 2-2 it ended, a far better result for Belgium than would have been expected.

No change in the table then, with Italy top, France second, Belgium third and Israel propping up the standings in last.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
England v Greece
Wembley Stadium, London
Result: England 1 - 2 Greece

After much naysaying (including by me) England have made it through to the next round and now faced top of the table Greece, who are already assured of promotion to the top league, League A. England may also be promoted, but that depends on their play-off game. Greece were ahead in the 49th minute but though England scored at the death to level the match, it was Greece who came back in the last minute of extra time to score again and take the victory.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Finland v Republic of Ireland
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
Result: Finland 1 - 2 Republic of Ireland

With a pretty abysmal record in the league, it's no real surprise to see Ireland so low in the table, already looking at relegation to Group C if we don't win our own play-off match. Finland, though, are below us, and doomed to relegation no matter what. The architects of our own downfall, we gave it away in the 17th minute and were duly punished. I'm sure no Irish fan was surprised. Might have been surprised three minutes later when we scored from a free, but they needn't have worried: the ball had gone out of play and the goal didn't count.

Much of the pressure coming from Ireland, to be fair, but we weren't doing anything with it. Long shots from outside the box, hopeful swipes, but finally in the 57th minute we scored - the first goal for our new manager, which tells its own story - and the game was level. But for how long? Next goal would surely decide it. Amazingly, it was Ireland who scored, after coming close to having let Finland in several times, and with only three minutes of normal time to go, that looked like it: Ireland to get their first victory in this league? Well, we almost added a third in the dying seconds but held on to take all three points, no doubt confusing Irish fans, who had the boos ready and had to change the chant. Ireland win. Those two words just don't go together.

B2 table looks the same as it did before today, with Greece top, England second, us third and Finland last.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Kazakhstan
Raiffeisen Stadium, Linz
Result: Austria 4 - 0 Kazakhstan
A similar situation for these two, with Austria, third in the table, needing to win their play-off match to avoid relegation, while Kazakhstan are already bound for League C, due to coming last in the table. Austria scored first in the tenth minute, but it was in the second half that they really began to play, netting their second and third within minutes of each other near the start of the second half. A fourth in the 79th minute gave Austria a convincing win.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Slovenia
Ullevaal Stadium, Oslo
Result: Norway 3 - 0 Slovenia
Slovenia are looking at the giddy heights of League A, thanks to their performance in the first round allowing them to top the table, while Norway may be able to join them if they win their promotion play-off match. No real surprise to see them score - any team with goal machine Erling Haaland is always going to have a chance, and he put them ahead in the seventh minute, Norway going two up in the 52nd minute, and Haaland was at it again, netting their third ten minutes later.

It's all change then in League B3 - Norway top with Austria second, Slovenia in third and poor old Kazakhstan down the bottom.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Latvia v North Macedonia
Skonto Stadium, Riga
Result: Latvia 0 - 3 North Macedonia
In the same vein as the previous teams, North Macedonia are to be promoted to League B, having come first in the table, while Latvia occupy third place and their fate rests in the hands of the Faroe Islands. A taste of things to come for North Macedonia when there was almost a rare goal by their keeper - talk about a long shot up to the front! - but the Latvian keeper spared his team's blushes, and his own. For now. Luck was not with Latvia though as they were down 1-0 in the 34th minute, and two down in the second half, another long ball but this time finished off by a striker. Their third goal came almost on the stroke of time, 90th minute, and Latvia were probably glad to hear the final whistle.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Faroe Islands v Armenia
Torsvollur Stadium, Torshavn
Result: Faroe Islands 2 - 2 Armenia
Depending on how they did tonight, the Faroes might be relegated to the depths of League D, or might have a chance to avoid that fate via a relegation play-off match, if they qualified. Armenia were already on their way to League B, coming second in the table. It was deep into the first half, the 37th minute in fact, before the Faroes scored, though Armenia came back with one of their own before half time, Faroes winning it in the 85th minute, or so they thought, until Armenia popped up with an equaliser deep into injury time.

Group C4 table then looks like this: North Macedonia at the top, with Armenia second and Latvia third, while the Faroe Islands failed to win their match and remain at the bottom. At the moment, that allows Latvia the chance to play a relegation play-off match to avoid dropping to the lowest league.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Gibraltar v San Marino
Europa Business Park, Europa Point
Result: Gibraltar 1 - 0 San Marino
Who would have thought it? Tiny little San Marino, the butt of every European football joke that isn't an Irish or Liechtenstein one, are promoted to the rarefied heights of League C. Gibraltar may be able to emulate them if they win their promotion play-off match.  The Rock scored the only goal in the 62nd minute to take the game 1-0.

D1 table shows Gibraltar first, with San Marino second and Liechtenstein last.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Moldova v Andorra
Stadionul Zimbru, Chisinau
Result: Moldova 2 - 0 Andorra
Moldova are also headed for League C status, but what happens to Andorra I confess eludes me. They're bottom of the table, but there's no League E, so where do they go? Stay where they are? Moldova scored on the 30 minute mark and again in the dying seconds of extra time.

D2 shows Moldova in first place, with Malta second and Andorra as I say down the end.

[Trollheart]

Tomorrow's Matches
Iceland v Wales
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Germany
Hungary v Netherlands
Czech Republic v Albania
Ukraine v Georgia
Turkey v Montenegro
Estonia v Azerbaijan
Slovakia v Sweden

[jimmy jazz]

After much naysaying (including by me) England have made it through to the next round and now faced top of the table Greece, who are already assured of promotion to the top league, League A. England may also be promoted, but that depends on their play-off game.

Nobody is assured of promotion yet, there are three games to go?

[Trollheart]

Yeah I know. I got confused cos everyone keeps shouting at me. SO many responses! 
That's what I get for thinking I'm a pundit. 
Good games coming up tonight though.

[Trollheart]

[b[Day Two[/b]

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Germany
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica
Result: Bosnia 1 - Germany 2

I asked the question before, and it bears repeating: can anyone stop Germany? Undefeated in the tournament so far, they surely would not have been fearing a match with Bosnia, and indeed they scored on the half-hour, adding a second five minutes later and surely putting the Bosnians in fear of the kind of drubbing the Germans handed out to Hungary in the first round. They came back though, scoring themselves in the 70th minute, so though they lost at least they weren't thrashed. Germany, as expected, march on undefeated.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Netherlands
Puskas Arena, Budapest
Result: Hungary 1 - 1 Netherlands

The giants of European football were out tonight, as the rampant Dutch took on a Hungarian team who had yet to win a single match. It was however they who had the first shot on 16 minutes, the ball just whizzing past the near post, Hungary, as they say, a coat of paint from opening the scoring. Whether shaken out of their complacency by that unexpected turn of events or not, Netherlands had a shot of their own stopped in the 27th, only to see the player who had missed earlier take his opportunity to put the ball in the back of the net a few minutes later. Would this be a springboard Hungary could build upon? Could they hold Netherlands off till the break?

Well, the answer to the second question is yes, they could, however a free in the 58th minute had the Dutch threatening again, and they nearly went level when Hungary gave the ball away on 61, all the pressure coming from the team in orange (well, blue, but you know what I mean). Hungary were desperate for their first win though, and when a Dutch player was sent off with a straight red surely they must have thought this could be it? As the clock ticked down though, Netherlands got a free and proved you can never count them out as they equalised. 1-1 it ended, but what could have been for Hungary, who still wait for their first victory.

A3 table: Germany still top with Netherlands second, Hungary third and Bosnia last.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Albania
Stadion Letna, Prague
Result: Czech Republic 2 - 0 Albania

It only took the Czechs two minutes to go ahead in this match, poor Albanian defending almost letting them in for a second in the 18th, though they almost managed a goal themselves in the 24th. A wasted effort though as the Czech Republic added a second in the 63rd minute to take the game.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Ukraine v Georgia
Poznan Stadium, Poznan
Result: Ukraine 1 - 0 Georgia

Not quite sure what it was tonight about teams not being able to score til the half-hour, but Ukraine had to wait till the 35th minute before they netted their first and only goal in the match, despite both sides coming close on occasion.

B1 table has Georgia top, despite their loss tonight. Czech Republic is second with Albania third and, again, despite their victory, Ukraine prop up the table.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Iceland v Wales
Laugardalsvollur, Reykjavik
Result: Iceland 2 - 2 Wales

Wales weren't feeling the cold when they travelled to the world's most northern city and took only ten minutes to score, adding a second in the 29th. Not to be humiliated on their home soil though, Iceland hit one of their own on 69, levelling the match three minutes later. A game of two halves indeed.


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Turkey v Montenegro
Samsun 19 Mayis Stadium, Samsun
Result: Turkey 1 - 0 Montenegro

Nothing much to speak of in the first half here, but Turkey went ahead in the 69th minute, the only goal of the game giving them the victory.

B4 table sees Turkey top with Wales second, Iceland third and Montenegro still with a mountain to climb. Sorry.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Estonia v Azerbaijan
Lillekula Stadium, Tallinn
Result: Estonia 3 - 1 Azerbaijan

Another first goal on the half hour deal, as the Estonian striker left the keeper for dead, went around and past him and banged the ball into the empty net for the first of his country's three goals tonight. Azerbaijan pulled one back via a penalty in the 44th minute, but one minute later Estonia were at it again, Azerbaijan behind again as we went into the break 2-1 to the Estonians. In the 70th they got their third and that was that.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Slovakia v Sweden
Tehelne pole, Bratislava
Result: Slovakia 2 - 2 Sweden

Sweden were first to score in this match, netting in the 27th minute, adding a second 7 minutes later, Slovakia halving the deficit just before half time, and levelling the match in the 71st, and so honours were shared.

CI table sees Sweden top with Slovakia just behind them, Estonia third and Azerbaijan bringing up the rear.

[Trollheart]

Tomorrow's Matches
Croatia v Scotland
Poland v Portugal
Serbia v Switzerland
Spain v Denmark
Lithuania v Kosovo
Cyprus v Romania
Bulgaria v Luxembourg
Belarus v Northern Ireland

[Trollheart]

Day Three

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Scotland
Stadion Maksimir, Zagreb
Result: Croatia 2 - 1 Scotland

Currently languishing at the bottom of the table without a single point, Scotland needed to do well tonight. The absolute best they could achieve was to go level with Croatia and Poland, but that would only happen if both those teams lost. Poland losing to Portugal seemed a likely prospect, but even so, Scotland's future looked bleak. With a win, Croatia would remain at second - even if Portugal lost (unlikely) they'd still be top. Continuing the trend from last night of goals not coming until just after the half-hour, it was minute 33 when Scotland struck after a mistake by Croatia, but their lead lasted less than two minutes, and so it was level as the teams went in for the half-time cup of tea.

Modric almost did it again in the 65th minute but shot wide, Croatia keeping up the pressure to net their second on 70. Scotland had a chance to draw level on 77 but another wide of the goal, and again in the last minute of normal time. They got their reward in literally the last seconds when Croatia were forced into an own goal, and a draw was the result. Except the goal was ruled offside, so Croatia took the match.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Portugal
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw
Result: Poland 1 - 3 Portugal

Everyone would expect Portugal to take all three points here, remaining at the top of the table, while even with an unlikely win the Poles would still be in third, due to an inferior goal difference against Croatia, and Portugal would still remain top, so in effect not a lot for the Poles to look forward to. Ronaldo's shot hopped off the crossbar on 10 minutes, but Portugal were ahead ten minutes later and added another on 36, goal 133 for Portugal's star man.

Poland managed to make the scoreline a little less one-sided when they scored on 77 but back came the Portuguese in the last minutes, forcing an own goal to confirm their win.

A1 table: Portugal remain top with Croatia second, Poland third and Scotland remain bottom with zero points.

League A, Group 4  (A4)
Serbia v Switzerland
Dubocica Stadium, Leskovac
Result: Serbia 2 - 0 Switzerland

Desperate times for the Swiss, for whom only a win would do. A draw against third-placed Serbia would be no use to them, leaving them remaining rooted at the bottom of the table with a massive six goals against them and looking at certain relegation. A third own goal of the night (not in this match, of course, but overall) didn't help Switzerland's cause, especially as it came on the stroke of half-time, never a good time to go one down. Serbia turned the screw in the second half, scoring again on 61 minutes. Not even a penalty could save the Swiss, as they missed the spot kick on 72, and things are looking black for them. Is it unfair to call this a Swiss miss? Maybe, but I've said it anyway.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Spain v Denmark
Nueva Condomina, Murcia
Result: Spain 1 - 0 Denmark

Spain were planning to overtake Denmark in the top slot, only two points between them. If Denmark won though, or even drew, their chances of advancing to the quarter-finals looked a lot better. An even match really, which didn't come alive with a goal till almost ten minutes from time, when Spain scored the only goal.

A4 table sees a change at the top as Spain take the lead with Denmark second, Serbia third and Switzerland still waiting for their first point, rooted to the bottom of the table.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Lithuania v Kosovo
Darius and Girenas Stadium, Kaunas
Result: Lithuania 1 - 2 Kosovo

Also rooted at the foot of the table with no points, it didn't look good for Lithuania as they faced the team sitting two spaces above them, Kosovo looking to improve on their three points so far. 20 minutes in and they had their first goal, adding a second in the 65th, though Lithuania didn't disgrace themselves, netting in the last few minutes of normal time. It wasn't enough though and Kosovo march on.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Cyprus v Romania
AEK Arena - Georgios Karapatakis, Larnaca
Result: Cyprus 0 - 3 Romania

Cyprus faced the mighty Romania, who top the table with six points. The Cypriots looked unlikely to progress even with a win, due to an inferior goal difference against second-placed Kosovo. It only took the league leaders 16 minutes to score, then a poor tackle in the box led to a penalty for them in the 25th, putting them two ahead, the game decided on 36 with a third. Cyprus never touched them.

C2 table remains the same then, with Romania ahead with a perfect 9 points from 3 games, Kosovo behind them with 6 and Cyprus third with 3, while Lithuania, at the foot, have yet to earn a single point.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria v Luxembourg
Hristo Botev Stadium, Plovdiv
Result: Bulgaria 0 - 0 Luxembourg

Nobody is surprised to see tiny Luxembourg at the bottom of the league table, and with no goals and three against, they couldn't even overtake Northern Ireland in third place if Belarus beat the nordies. Bulgaria were looking to go top if somehow league leaders Belarus lost. Despite seven yellow cards, indicating a bad-tempered game surely, neither team could score.


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Belarus v Northern Ireland
ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg
Result: Belarus 0 - 0 Northern Ireland

Due to their involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, though not banned from the league Belarus have to play their games behind closed doors (i.e., no spectators) and in other countries, tonight it's Hungary. A win for Northern Ireland would put them top after Bulgaria had drawn against Luxembourg. Could the Northern Irishmen take their chance and come up with a famous victory? It looked like the perfect start for them as they scored in the tenth minute, but the goal was disallowed for offside, Northern Ireland applying all the pressure and again coming close six minutes from the break.

Perhaps disheartened both by the disallowed goal and their failure to score in the first half, Northern Ireland matched this in the second, and the chance was gone as they drew 0-0, remaining where they are in the table.

C3 table remains as is, with Belarus top, Bulgaria second and Northern Ireland third, Luxembourg sitting at the foot, but it should be noted there is only one point in it for the three teams, with Belarus and Bulgaria on 5 points and Northern Ireland on 4.

Tomorrow's Matches
Armenia v North Macedonia
Faroe Islands v Latvia
Liechtenstein v Gibraltar
Malta v Moldova
Finland v England
Greece v Republic of Ireland
Kazakhstan v Slovenia
Austria v Norway

[jimmy jazz]

It is quite amusing that people hounded Southgate out and then ended up with Carsley and the Greece result.

We came disgustingly close to glory twice which is the best we've done in half a century and nobody would give him an ounce of credit.

I fear a long period of decline for England now.

Going to be awkward if the bald cunt Pep gets the job when Carsley leaves. I genuinely don't know how I'd feel.

[Trollheart]

Day Four

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Finland v England
Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki
Result: Finland 1 - 3 England

England had a point to make, having been defeated - much to their own surprise and that of their fans - by Greece in the previous match. Harry Kane, fresh from his frustrated efforts to neutralise Villa in the Champions League and therefore surely spoiling for a fight, with much to prove, again captained the side. It was however the Finns who had the first attack on 6 minutes, shooting wide. Ten minutes later Jack Grealish had almost a tap-in after a perfect pass and England were one ahead, nerves perhaps settled.

Back came the Finns eight minutes from the end of the first half, almost levelling but again missing, this time shooting over the top, and another shot, this time directly at the keeper, as the half came to a close, England in the ascendancy but all the play coming from Finland. The English were on the attack again as the second half began, Cole Palmer narrowly missing doubling their lead. Five minutes later Finland had yet another opportunity to equalise but blazed the ball high over the bar. Getting closer, but would they rue all these missed chances?

The game was certainly nowhere near safe at 1-0, Rice having a go on 58, attempting to put a better complexion on the game, but right into the keeper's waiting arms it went. A free on 72 led to England's second, directly in by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who took the free, and Lee Carsley's boys could breathe a little easier. Seven minutes of normal time to go and Watkins passed to Rice, England now secure with three goals, and all three points. Finland did pull one back at the death, but it was England's night, and they are back on track.

League B, Group 2 (B2)
Greece v Republic of Ireland
Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus
Result: Greece 2 - 0 Republic of Ireland

It's absolutely hilarious and also very very sad to hear the way we Irish suddenly had this great idea our team was going to come out of first gear after an, admittedly, decent win against Finland. Of course, even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then, and a stopped clock is right twice a day, and any other cliche you wish to quote which explains how fortunes can seem to change. But how many people believed it of Ireland? How many of us really thought that they were going to go on and build on that one single victory, the first for our new manager from Iceland? Well, those that did were brought sharply back down to earth and returned to reality with a bump as Greece walked all over us.

An indication of how poor we were going to be was evident when the goalkeeper kicked the ball long up the field in the first three minutes, so long in fact that it reached his opposite number, and not an Irish player to be seen trying to get on the end of it. Oh dear. Okay in fairness a minute or two later we had a go, but it went nowhere, rather like our team's fortunes over the last few years really. Our favourite pastime of giving the ball away could have led to disaster on 7 minutes, but luckily the Greek shot wide. A warning though, and one we were not going to heed. Do we ever?

All the pressure coming from Greece as we struggled to keep them out, no real inventiveness in the team or even anything you could call passion; we already looked like we were hanging on for the draw, and the match was only 18 minutes old! A long way to go, and the longer it went with no effort from Ireland the more chance the Greeks would score, which of course they did; having what could only be called survived the first half, we were undone almost instantly as they scored a fine goal in the first two minutes of the second.

To our credit, Ireland almost managed to reply, though it was well into the half before we headed over the bar, but at least it was something. As the match wound down it looked like we might have a chance from a corner but again no dice. In fact, it was well into injury time before once again we gave it away, our keeper gifting Greece a sitter, their second goal, a chance they did not waste, unlike us. Well beaten. Like England, but in a totally different way, normal service has been resumed.

B3 table: Greece then remain top with maximum points, England below them at second, us at third and Finland at the bottom without a single point to their name.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Kazakhstan v Slovenia
Almaty Central Stadium, Almaty
Result: Kazakhstan 0 - 1 Slovenia

A superb goal in the 55th minute took this one for Slovenia. Nothing more to say about that really.

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Norway
Raiffeisen Stadium, Linz
Result: Austria 5 - 1 Norway

An unlikely victory for Austria, especially against a team with Erling Haaland, but it was the Austrians who struck first, only seven minutes in. Norway were back in it just before the break, after a free kick, but that was to be their last goal, as Austria got a penalty in the second half, scoring to again take the lead. After that, they went on the hunt and it became something of a rout as they scored in the 56th from a corner, six minutes later to add their fourth and Austria finished in fine style with a fifth on 70 minutes, Halland completely neutralised. A famous victory for Austria.

B3 table: Despite that heavy loss, Norway remain top while both Austria in second and Slovenia in third now match them on points, seven apiece, while Kazakhstan look up from the foot of the table with just the single point.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Armenia v North Macedonia
Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, Yerevan
Result: Armenia 0 - 2 North Macedonia

This was surely a game in which it looked like nothing was going to happen, as the two Eastern European teams fought out a nil-nil draw, but in the 71st minute a superb goal lit up the match and North Macedonia were one ahead, adding a second five minutes from time.

League C, Group 4 (C4)
Faroe Islands v Latvia
Torsvollur, Torshavn
Result: Faroe Island 1 - 1 Latvia

Points shared in this one as a poor error from the Latvian keeper allowed the Faroes in and it was deep in the second half before Latvia replied, to end the game in a draw, and no doubt save their goalkeeper's blushes.

C4 table: North Macedonia top, Armenia second with Latvia third and the Faroes down the bottom. At least everyone has some points on the board, unlike other groups in other leagues.

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Liechtenstein v Gibraltar
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz
Result: Liechtenstein 0 - 0 Gibraltar

Not quite between a rock and a hard place, unless you consider it being a hard place to score? Neither could, and the match ended scoreless, though honestly we weren't exactly expecting a goalfest, were we? Liechtenstein did get a rare penalty, but even then, they couldn't put it away. Maybe they hadn't practiced enough, or even at all, not anticipating such an award? A pity, as it could have lit up a very dull match, coming in the final seconds of the game, but it wasn't to be.

D1 table: Gibraltar on top while San Marino are second and Liechtenstein probably feel comfortable and familiar down there at the bottom.

League D, Group 2 (D2)
Malta v Moldova
National Stadium, Ta'Qali
Result: Malta 1 - 0 Moldova

Another boring match heading for a nil-all draw until Malta scored in the dying moments. Rather like their tiny land-locked neighbours, they too had a penalty right at the end, but unlike poor old Liechtenstein they were able to convert it to take the match.

D2 table: Moldova top while Malta are second, both with six points, but Andorra can't buy a point and remain rooted to the foot of the table.

[Trollheart]

Day Five

League A, Group 2 (A2)
Belgium v France
King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
Result: Belgium 1 - 2 France

Still De Bruyne-less, Belgium also faced a France team minus their star man, and put the French under pressure from the off, coming close to scoring against a pretty shaky French defence on 12 minutes, the ball going wide. Six minutes later the only way a France team seemingly devoid of ideas could stop the Belgians was to foul their man in the box, which led of course to a penalty, but what a terrible spot kick! Kicked right over the bar. What a waste.

8 minutes to the break and this time it was France who were awarded the penalty, and they showed the Belgians how to do it. Against the run of play maybe, France now ahead. Belgium were not to be denied though, and came back in the last seconds of extra time, the goal ruled offside. VAR disagreed though, and the sides were level.

France thought they had retaken the lead a few minutes into the second half, but this time handball was the decision and the goal did not stand, so it remained one each as we headed into the 60th minute, neither team able to get the better of the other, until France settled it, no mistake this time. A free for Belgium 15 minutes from time reduced the French to ten men, but they held on for the win.



League A, Group 2 (A2)
Italy v Israel
Stadio Friuli, Udine
Result: Italy 3 - 1 Israel

Nothing much happened in this match until almost the end of the half, when Italy got a penalty and put it away as only Italy can, adding a second as the game resumed. Israel scored themselves just after the hour mark but Italy restored their two-goal lead ten minutes later and added a fourth just to seal it in the 78th minute.

A2 table: Italy top the group, France second (though there's only a point in it now, 10 to 9) with Belgium in third and Israel pointless at the bottom, with a massive 13 goals against them.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v Hungary
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica
Result: Bosnia 0 - 2 Hungary

The first half was looking to be ending scoreless until Hungary put the ball in the net with seven minutes to go, a penalty as the second half opened allowing them to double their lead, leaving them clear winners.

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Germany v Netherlands
Allianz Arena, Munich
Result: Germany 1 - 0 Netherlands

A well-matched game as neither could break the deadlock until the 63rd minute, when Germany scored the only goal.

A3 table: Germany at the top, no surprise there, followed by Netherlands then Hungary at third with Bosnia at the bottom with just the one point.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Georgia v Albania
Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi
Result: Georgia 0 - 1 Albania

An early shot from Georgia went wide on four minutes, again in the tenth, but Albania weren't sitting back either, having a shot saved on 13 minutes. More action in the first half here than in some of the bigger matches! The half ended though without a goal and it was Albania who took the lead three minutes into the second period, almost adding a second shortly afterwards, but they held on for the win. A real example, it would seem, of a team having all the possession and attack but still losing.

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Ukraine v Czech Republic
Wroclaw Stadium, Wroclaw
Result: Ukraine 1 - 1 Czech Republic

Another match with an early effort, Ukraine almost scoring on 4 minutes, but it was the Czechs who ended up opening the scoring in the 18th minute. A penalty for Ukraine early in the second half levelled the game, and despite efforts by the Czech Republic, a draw was the outcome.

B1 table: Czech Republic top the table, but only one point behind them are Georgia, and indeed Albania, both with 6 points to the Czechs' 7. Ukraine are at the bottom of the table with 4.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Iceland v Turkey
Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavik
Result: Iceland 2 - 4 Turkey

When they began the highlights the score already showed 2-3 in favour of Turkey, so I'll have to refer to Wiki to get some idea of how that went. Excuse me just one moment. Okay it seems Iceland scored in the third minute, and kept the Turks at bay for the entire first half, a reply only coming in the 62nd minute, but closely followed up by a penalty which then gave them the lead. Iceland shot back seven minutes from time but five minutes later Turkey were ahead again, and scored a fourth in the last seconds of extra time. I have no idea why they didn't show that; sounds like it was one of the more exciting matches.

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Montenegro
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Result: Wales 1 - 0 Montenegro

Unbeaten Wales must have fancied themselves against Montenegro, and came close to opening the scoring on 12 minutes, and again on the 20th. A third time, this time on 30, but still the Montenegrin net would not bulge. It took a penalty being awarded before Wales could net their first goal. Not much from Montenegro but they did almost score in the second half, with a shot that would have been a hell of a goal had it not clipped the top of the post. As it was, for all their dominance Wales could not add another, but they'll settle for 1-0 and three points, their undefeated record remaining intact.

B4 table: Turkey on top with Wales second, Iceland third and Montenegro pointless at the bottom.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Azerbaijan v Slovakia
Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium, Baku
Result: Azerbaijan 1 - 3 Slovakia

An early start for Slovakia, who scored on 15 minutes, although through an own goal, Azerbaijan making up for the error by scoring down the right end before the half came to a close. A bad tackle though robbed them of one of their players and from then on it was all Slovakia, as they added a second on 75 and sealed it 10 minutes later.

League C, Group 1 (C1)
Estonia v Sweden
Lillekula Stadium, Tallinn
Result: Estonia 0 - 3 Sweden

Estonia held the Scandinavian side off for half an hour, but when Sweden scored it was only going to go one way. Another before the end of the half was followed by a third in the 65th minute, all too easy for the Swedes.

C1 table: Sweden and Slovakia are on equal points, 10 apiece, but Sweden's superior goal difference gives them first place, while Slovakia have to settle for second. Estonia are third and without a point in sight, Azerbaijan are looking at relegation in fourth.

Tomorrow's Matches
Poland v Croatia
Scotland v Portugal
Spain v Serbia
Switzerland v Denmark
Kosovo v Cyprus
Lithuania v Romania
Belarus v Luxembourg
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria

[Trollheart]

Day Six

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Croatia
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw
Result: Poland 3 - 3 Croatia

A six-goal thriller saw Poland take the lead in the fifth minute, Croatia replying fourteen minutes later, and adding a second four minutes after that. By 25 minutes in it was three to Croatia, Poland pulling one back just before the break. They got the equaliser in the 67th minute, and with Croatia having a player sent off for a straight red card, Poland might have had a chance to take all three points, but 3-3 it ended.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Scotland v Portugal
Hampden Park, Glasgow
Result: Scotland 0 - 0 Portugal

Have the Scots just been unlucky, or are they shite? Let's be kind and assume the former, but they haven't won a single match so far, and really, the last thing you want to see when you are facing a record like that is the red and green wave as Ronaldo and his team arrive in town. Like Northern Ireland, Scotland were playing at home, so perhaps the crowd could energise them? If they weren't all drunk. Hey, even if they were: who can belt out "I Belong Tae Glasgae" better than a pissed Scotsman? Or woman. But I digress, and there's a rather large Scottish gentleman looking at me funny and tapping a cosh into his palm, so let's get on with it.

A long shot upfield from a free in the third minute almost gave them the perfect start, but McTominay headed right into the keeper's arms. Ronaldo then threatened four minutes later when Scotland gave the ball away, but luckily their keeper was alive to the danger too. Going to be a long night. Portugal had a free in the 25th minute and it almost went in, but the Scottish keeper did well to keep it out.

Into the second half, still scoreless, and another shot from Ronaldo went awry, heading over the bar, but the Portuguese kept up the pressure, this time the shot was well over the bar, a really bad miss. You would have to say now though that Scotland were holding a defensive action, just hoping to see out the match without conceding, as Portugal had all the possession and all the chances, but nil-all it ended.

A1 table: Despite a poor result tonight against the Scots, Portugal remain top while Croatia are second, Poland third and poor Scotland are bound for relegation, with just the one point at the bottom.

League A, Group 4 (A4)
Spain v Serbia
Nueva Arcangel, Cordoba
Result: Spain 3 - 0 Serbia

The Spanish football machine was in fine form tonight, the first goal coming in the first four minutes, constant pressure on the Serbian goal, and Spain could have been four ahead by the break, but just had the one. Serbia didn't look likely to be replying though, and in the second half it was more of the same really, except the rather rare sight of Spain missing a penalty, which just went up into space, a truly awful miss, the more so because of who it was.

Serbia's relief didn't last long though, as Spain were on the attack again, giving the Serbs no chance to even get out of their own half. In the 62nd minute they nearly scored but missed the opportunity to level the game, and had cause to rue that miss two minutes later as Spain went two up. A free kick in the 74th gave them their third and the game was as good as won.


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Switzerland v Denmark
Kybunpark, St. Gallen
Result: Switzerland 2 - 2 Denmark

Switzerland still couldn't manage to score their first victory, despite netting twice as they faced Denmark and the very real prospect of relegation to League B. They scored on 26 but Denmark replied almost immediately to equalise, then a penalty in the last seconds of the half gave the Swiss the opportunity to retake the lead, a chance they did not spurn.

It was the 68th minute that broke Swiss hearts though, as Denmark hammered past the Swiss keeper to again level the match, and leave Switzerland staring at three points turned into one. They're surely going down now.

A4 table: Spain ride high at the top, which will be no surprise to anyone, Denmark take second place while Serbia fill the third slot, and Switzerland, with at least one point now, not that it will do them much good, are at the foot.

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Kosovo v Cyprus
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Prishtina
Result: Kosovo 3 - 0 Cyprus

Kosovo continued their winning streak as they put Cyprus to the sword, scoring on the half hour and again just after the restart, sealing the win in the 70th minute with their third.


League C, Group 2 (C2)
Lithuania v Romania
Darius & Girenas Stadium, Kaunas
Result: Lithuania 1 - 2 Romania

Romania conceded a penalty after just three minutes for handball, allowing Lithuania to open the scoring, then believe it or not, another handball down the other end on 17 gave Romania the chance to equalise. Halfway through the second period Romania took the match with their second goal.

C2 table: Romania are top followed by Kosovo at second, Cyprus at third and Lithuania in last place, without a point.

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Belarus v Luxembourg
ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg
Result: Belarus 1 - 1 Luxembourg

Strange how Belarus, unbeaten up to now, couldn't find their way past lowly Luxembourg, who are foot of the table without a point, but even with a penalty given in the tenth minute they couldn't score, the Luxembourg keeper saving. Just going to be one of those nights, I guess! Seven minutes from the break and it could have got even worse for them as Luxembourg had a rare shot, but it bounced off the post.

Belarus did score as the second half opened, and probably thought they had done enough, but then they went and gave away a penalty 13 minutes from time, and fair play to them, Luxembourg showed them how to take a spot kick, levelling the match and leaving Belarus surely scratching their heads and wondering how that had happened?


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Northern Ireland v Bulgaria
Windsor Park, Belfast
Result: Northern Ireland 5 - 0 Bulgaria

Playing to a home crowd, Northern Ireland turned it on and showed their southern neighbours how it's done as they took Bulgaria in a five-star performance. They were ahead in 14 minutes, adding a second 14 minutes later. A penalty could have resulted, as a Northern Irish player was brought down in the box, but with the ball already in the net the question became academic.

Academic, too, the possibility of Bulgaria getting anything out of this match when Northern Ireland added a third on 31, the ball actually bouncing off the post but hitting the keeper and going in, so I guess an own goal then? They all count. As half-time wound down, Bulgaria had a chance to salvage something when they were awarded a penalty, but the ball hit the crossbar.

Ten minutes from time and Northern Ireland were in showboating form, a superb goal from distance making it 4-0, and they completed a perfect performance with their fifth with two minutes to go. Not only was this a fantastic score, but against Bulgaria, who had been unbeaten up to this, it has to rank as one of the nordies' best ever. What about ye lads?

C3 table: It's all change then, as, perhaps to everyone's surprise - certainly mine - Northern Ireland take it at the death, climbing to the top of the table and displacing Belarus, who are now second with Bulgaria third. Luxembourg remain at the end, but at least they now have another point to their tally, giving them two in all. Fab.*

* Very old joke. If you get it, you're as old as I am.

[Trollheart]

Confirmed results:
Germany, Spain automatically through to the quarter-finals.

Greece, Turkey, Sweden, Slovakia, Romania, Kosovo, North Macedonia likely to make it through, though may have to play a promotion play-off match.

Switzerland, Finland, Montenegro  likely to be relegated, but may be saved in a relegation play-off match.

That's it till November. Don't forget to check out my Champions League and FA Cup threads!