AFPWarren Zaire-Emery (l) and Raz Shlomo (r)
NOS Voetbal•gisteren, 22:51
Israel took its first point in group 2 of League A, the highest level of the competition, in the charged away match against France in the Nations League. Thanks to the 0-0 draw and a 0-1 defeat of Belgium against Italy, France and Italy secured a place in the quarter-finals.
The result was of minor importance in Paris. More importantly, it remained calm, after last week’s disturbances in Amsterdam surrounding the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The French authorities had taken heavy security measures, such as deploying 4,000 police officers. Only French and Israeli flags were allowed in the stadium. Palestinian banners and flags were banned inside. Demonstrations were allowed elsewhere in the city.
Whistling, booing and a few riots
The match was played in front of largely empty stands. Only almost 20,000 of the 80,000 seats in the Stade de France were occupied. The grandstand was full, including French President Emmanuel Macron and former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande.
Whistling and booing came from the stands as the Israeli national anthem played. These sounds could also be heard during the match when Israeli ball was in possession. Some disturbances were also reported in the stands.
Furthermore, it was mainly a boring affair on the field. France played at too low a pace to upset the visitors and Israel stayed upright, partly thanks to goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.
- AFPTDuring the Israeli national anthem, there were boos
- AFPPro Palestinian protest in the suburb of Aubervilliers against the match
- AFPF French and Israeli flags on the stands
- AFP Punch in the stands at the Stade de France
Up front, Michael Olise (Bayern Munich), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain) and Bradley Barcola (Paris Saint-Germain) had to make Mbappé forget, but that hardly worked. The three attackers missed some opportunities
In fact, the best chance of the first half was for Israel, when Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Raz Shlomo missed the ball completely after a free kick extended by Dor Turgeman.
France continued to push in the second half. Fifteen minutes before the end, Warren Zaire-Emery was able to shoot the ball into the goal from close range, but the 18-year-old talent from PSG missed. Once again goalkeeper Peretz made a great save. In injury time, star Peretz saved again, this time on a bet by substitute Christopher Nkunku.
After the final whistle, there was whistling and booing again, also because of the poor performance of the home team.
Tonali match winner for Italy
In Brussels, Belgium fought against Italy for its last chance, but the Red Devils fell behind after eleven minutes. Giovanni Di Lorenzo outsmarted Maxim De Cuyper and served the prodigal son Sandro Tonali, who scored his first international goal.
AFPItalia celebrates Sandro Tonali’s 0-1
The second half in Brussels was a lot more entertaining. Belgium scored the 1-1 through Loïs Openda, Romelu Lukaku and Wout Faes (post), but Italy had the best chance of the second goal through Mateo Retegui.
Belief slowly ebbed away from Belgium, which lost to Italy for the 17th time in 26 matches and has to fight against relegation.
England will not be surprised again
England took revenge on Greece in group 2 of division B, which had defeated the ‘Three Lions’ for the first time last month. At Wembley of all places. Promotion to Division A beckoned for the Greeks after that surprising 2-1 win, but in Athens England dominated from minute one and won 3-0.
In the run-up to the return, England captain Harry Kane had expressed his annoyance about the many cancellations (nine) of his team for this international break. He suggested that some of those absent would indeed have been present if the new national coach Thomas Tuchel, who starts in January, had already been in charge.
AFPOllie Watkins
Interim coach Lee Carsley started the striker, who has already scored as many goals in nineteen games this season, on the bench against the Greeks. Replacement Ollie Watkins fulfilled his selection after seven minutes by finishing off some clever preparatory work by former PSV player Noni Madueke: 0-1.
Greece hardly created any chances and otherwise found goalkeeper Jordan Pickford. Fifteen minutes before the end, he saw how his Greek colleague Odysseas Vlachodimos scored the 0-2: a shot from Jude Bellingham caromed off the post and into the goalkeeper. Substitute Curtis Jones celebrated his international debut with an effective backheel behind his supporting leg.
Nations League: A Yawn-worthy Affair with a Side of Security Drama
Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Nations League, serving up some lukewarm football and a side of chaos. In a riveting encounter that can only be described as “let’s all just hold our breath until the final whistle,” Israel managed to snag its first point by drawing 0-0 against France. Yes, you heard it right. A spectacular display of knotted shoelaces and misplaced passes led to a result that did more for the scorekeepers than the fans.
A Crowd of Whispers and Empty Seats
The match took place in the grand Stade de France, where the magic of football was overshadowed by an attendance record that could give the local library a run for its money—only 20,000 fans attended out of a potential 80,000. Quite the turnout! It’s almost admirable how our dear French president, Emmanuel Macron, and a couple of former presidents decided to grace the event with their presence. If only they could’ve brought a few more supporters along!
But let’s not gloss over the security measures that turned the place into Fort Knox. With 4,000 police officers on duty, one might assume there was a national treasure hunt underway instead of a football match! No Palestinian flags allowed inside. Apparently, they were only issuing tickets to the French and Israeli flags. Not quite what you’d expect in the land of liberté, égalité, et fraternité, eh?
Whistling (And Booing) in the Stands
If you thought the action was all on the pitch, let me introduce you to the stunning soundtrack created by the crowd. As the Israeli national anthem blared over the speakers, it was met with an enthusiastic chorus of whistling and booing. That’s right, nothing says “welcome” quite like a resounding chorus of discontent, just ask the Israeli players who, before they even kicked off, knew they were in for a warm reception!
Speaking of kicks, the match itself was about as exciting as watching paint dry on a rainy day. France, the so-called home heroes, trotted about like they were training for a marathon, while Israel’s goalie, Daniel Peretz, seemed to have taken a course in Olympics-level gymnastics, saving face (and shots) time after time. At one point, a player from Maccabi Tel Aviv—Raz Shlomo—managed to miss the ball completely after a free kick. A true moment of brilliance!
Heard That One Before?
As expected, the match ended in a whimper, wrapped up in more boos from the crowd who clearly had something more entertaining in mind. One can’t help but wonder if the home side’s performance was enough to make their fans question their life choices. “Why did I buy this ticket again?” is a question posed by thousands in the stands that night.
Italy vs. Belgium: A Match That Didn’t Need Security
Meanwhile, in Brussels, Belgium was busy trying to salvage any pride left in its national team against Italy. The Azzurri struck first, with Sandro Tonali managing to score his first international goal. Congratulations, Sandro! It’s just in time for your team to celebrate while the Belgians were left scratching their heads once again, particularly after losing to Italy for the 17th time in 26 matches. If you’re counting that’s approximately as often as the sun rises in the east. Maybe it’s time for them to hit the training ground instead of hoping for a miracle.
England’s Revenge – Three Lions Roar!
And while we’re at it, England decided to exact a bit of revenge against Greece, who had the audacity to best them last month. The match at Wembley was less a thriller and more an execution as England triumphed 3-0. Take that, Greece! Harry Kane was not amused by the number of last-minute cancellations from his teammates—suggesting they would have shown up if the new coach was already in charge. Makes you wonder how strong that bond truly runs, doesn’t it?
Ah, football. The joy, the heartbreak, and of course, the laughable moments that will keep us from ever taking this sport too seriously. Here’s to more matches filled with highs, lows, and a little bit of cheeky banter!
“If you can’t be good at football, at least be good at creating interesting stories!”
Israel secured its first point in Group 2 of League A, the elite tier of the Nations League, in a highly charged away match against France, concluding the contest in a 0-0 stalemate. This draw, coupled with Belgium’s 0-1 defeat to Italy, ensured that both France and Italy advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition, marking a pivotal moment in this phase of the tournament.
Although the match ended in a draw, the atmosphere in Paris was notably subdued and unmarred by disturbances, a significant improvement following last week’s violent protests in Amsterdam, which erupted during the Europa League match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
In anticipation of potential unrest, the French authorities implemented stringent security measures, deploying approximately 4,000 police officers to maintain order. Only French and Israeli flags were permitted inside the stadium, while Palestinian banners were strictly prohibited. Protests were, however, allowed to take place in various locations across the city.
The match unfolded before largely empty stands, with nearly 20,000 fans filling only a fraction of the 80,000 available seats at the Stade de France. The prominent attendees in the main grandstand included French President Emmanuel Macron, alongside former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande, adding a layer of political significance to the occasion.
As the Israeli national anthem resonated across the stadium, a chorus of whistling and booing erupted from the stands, an indication of the charged atmosphere. These jeers continued throughout the match whenever Israel maintained possession, detracting from the sporting spirit. A few disturbances further marred the unity of the crowd.
On the field, the match proved to be an uneventful affair. France struggled to find rhythm or pace, failing to challenge their visitors, while Israel managed to hold firm, largely due to the impressive performance of their goalkeeper, Daniel Peretz. The most notable chance of the first half fell to Israel when Maccabi Tel Aviv’s Raz Shlomo completely missed a potential goal-scoring opportunity after a free kick was deflected by teammate Dor Turgeman.
The second half saw France exert more pressure, yet they continued to misfire in critical moments. Warren Zaire-Emery, the promising 18-year-old talent from PSG, had a golden opportunity to secure a goal from close range but squandered it, allowing Peretz to showcase his goalkeeping prowess once again. In a crucial moment during injury time, Peretz produced another remarkable save against substitute Christopher Nkunku’s strike, preserving the draw for Israel.
After the final whistle, the home crowd responded with disappointment, venting their frustration through whistles and boos, echoing the general dissatisfaction with the team’s lackluster performance.
In Brussels, Belgium faced a challenging match against Italy in their desperate bid to stay competitive. Unfortunately for the Red Devils, they fell behind merely eleven minutes into the game when Giovanni Di Lorenzo outmaneuvered Maxim De Cuyper and assisted Sandro Tonali, who netted his first national team goal, further intensifying Belgium’s struggle.
The game took a more thrilling turn in the second half as Belgium equalized through Loïs Openda. Despite several near misses, including attempts by Romelu Lukaku and Wout Faes that hit the post, Italy’s Mateo Retegui came close to extending their lead with a notable chance. Belgium’s hope began to dwindle, marking their 17th defeat in 26 encounters in this rivalry as they faced the grim reality of potential relegation.
In a much-anticipated rematch, England decisively exacted revenge on Greece, who had celebrated a shocking victory against the ‘Three Lions’ just a month prior. This time, however, at Wembley, England took control from the outset and clinched a convincing 3-0 win, reinforcing their dominance over their opponents.
Prior to the match, England captain Harry Kane had expressed frustration over the numerous player absences—nine in total—for this international break. He speculated that some of the missing players might have chosen to participate if the newly appointed national coach Thomas Tuchel had been in place sooner.
Interim coach Lee Carsley featured striker Ollie Watkins, who had proven his scoring ability with nine goals in just nineteen games this season, starting him on the bench. However, Watkins quickly responded after being substituted in, scoring the opening goal within seven minutes of play, benefiting from intricate set-up work by former PSV player Noni Madueke, bringing the score to 0-1.
Greece struggled to create genuine threats and frequently encountered resistance from England’s goalkeeper, Jordan Pickford. With fifteen minutes remaining, Pickford witnessed his counterpart, Odysseas Vlachodimos, unfortunate mishap, as a shot from Jude Bellingham ricocheted off the post and inadvertently found its way into the net, doubling England’s lead to 0-2. The match concluded with substitute Curtis Jones celebrating a delightful debut, scoring an impressive backheel goal to cement the victory for England.
How did England’s performance against Greece showcase their potential to reclaim confidence and momentum in upcoming competitions?
Reclaiming the lead with a missed opportunity late in the match. The final score of 1-1 reflected Belgium’s ongoing struggle to find stability within their squad.
Meanwhile, in London, England decisively defeated Greece 3-0, a much-needed victory for the national team after their previous defeat to the same opponents. The match featured notable performances, including an early goal from Ollie Watkins, who capitalized on a beautifully set-up play by Noni Madueke. Jude Bellingham also contributed, with his shot ricocheting off the post and inadvertently leading to a goal credited to Greece’s goalkeeper, Odysseas Vlachodimos. Curtis Jones made his international debut and celebrated with a cleverly executed backheel goal.
As the international break draws to a close, fans and players alike will reflect on a series of mixed results—some thrilling, some disappointing, but all contributing to the rollercoaster of emotions that is international football. The anticipation builds for the next round of matches, where teams will vie for glory and fans can only hope for a more exhilarating display than what was witnessed this week.
**In Summary:**
– Israel achieved its first Nations League point with a goalless draw against France amidst heightened security and a sparse crowd.
– Belgium tied with Italy as both teams showcased their struggles, with Italy taking an early lead.
– England secured a convincing victory over Greece to help restore confidence following their prior loss to the same team.
With the excitement of the football season ongoing, supporters are sure to keep their hopes high for thrilling performances in the upcoming fixtures.
