UEFA Nations League Matchday 4 highlights: France and Italy rally to victory
Monday, October 5, 2026
Article summary
Rayan Cherki's finish turned the tide in France's UEFA Nations League win against Belgium, while Italy overpowered Türkiye in Bologna.
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France came from behind to beat Belgium by three goals in the UEFA Nations League, while Italy are second in Group A1 after getting the better of Türkiye.
On Sunday, Gonçalo Ramos scored a 79th-minute winner as Portugal overcame Norway 2-1 to seal their place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals. Elsewhere, Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee played pivotal roles as Denmark and the Netherlands picked up valuable victories.
Keep track of the Matchday 4 action.
Monday's results
A1 France 4-1 Belgium, Italy 3-1 Türkiye
B2 Northern Ireland 0-0 Georgia, Ukraine 1-2 Hungary
B4 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-0 Poland, Romania 0-1 Sweden
C2 Cyprus 2-1 Latvia, Montenegro 0-0 Armenia
France 4-1 Belgium
Les Bleus scored four goals in 14 second-half minutes as they came from behind to stun Belgium. Dodi Lukébakio had given the visitors the lead when he slotted home in the first period.
Zinédine Zidane utilised his star-studded bench after the break and saw his side click into top gear as Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki turned the tide with a quickfire double. Michael Olise then added two more late on as France maintained their unbeaten record in Group A1.
Italy 3-1 Türkiye
Roberto Mancini claimed a first win on home soil since returning as Italy manager as the Azzurri defeated Türki̇ye for a second time in Group A1.
Gianluca Scamacca's opener was the difference at the interval, but Aral Şimşir managed to draw Türki̇ye level after the restart. Parity would not remain for long, however, as Riccardo Calafiori came off the bench to head his side back in front, before Pio Esposito sealed the win in the closing stages.
Best of the rest
- Viktor Gyökeres extended his record Nations League goalscoring streak to seven games, his fourth of the campaign earning Sweden a 1-0 win in Romania and a two-point lead atop Group A4.
- Márk Csinger's 85th-minute finish earned Hungary a 2-1 victory against Ukraine in Trnava, but Northern Ireland remain top of Group B2 despite being held 0-0 by Georgia.
Sunday's matches
Sunday's results
A2 Greece 0-0 Germany, Netherlands 2-1 Serbia
A4 Portugal 2-1 Norway, Wales 0-1 Denmark
B3 Kosovo 1-1 Austria, Republic of Ireland 1-1 Israel
D1 Malta 1-0 Andorra
D2 Azerbaijan 1-0 Lithuania
Greece 0-0 Germany
A week after their first-ever win against Germany, Greece held off ample pressure to remain unbeaten by drawing in Thessaloniki.
The hosts went close first when Giorgos Masouras' header was pushed away by Jonas Urbig, but Jürgen Klopp's side produced the other 15 attempts during the first half, forcing Kostas Tzolakis to parry David Raum's fierce drive. Neither goalkeeper was troubled during the second period, though Philipp Treu lifted a late half-volley over the target from close range for the visitors.
Netherlands 2-1 Serbia
The Netherlands remain unbeaten under Xavi Hernández after Joshua Zirkzee's goal gave them a 2-1 win over Serbia in Eindhoven.
The hosts dominated the opening half-hour and went ahead when Teun Koopmeiners' free-kick flashed through a ruck of bodies and in. Mihajlo Cvetković's header ensured that the Oranje have both scored and conceded in all of their fixtures so far, before Zirkzee settled the game from close range with 19 minutes remaining to leave his side with two wins and two draws in the section.
Portugal 2-1 Norway
The Seleção sealed a spot in the quarter-finals thanks to a comeback victory against a spirited Norway side.
Kristoffer Ajer put the visitors ahead in spectacular fashion via a sumptuous half-volley, but Portugal levelled just two minutes later when João Cancelo powered home in style. The hosts then edged in front late on as Gonçalo Ramos added the finish to João Félix's clever lay-off, and the two-time Nations League champions held on to extend their winning Group A4 start despite having Francisco Conceição dismissed for a second bookable offence in the closing stages.
Wales 0-1 Denmark
Rasmus Højlund's composed penalty secured Denmark's second win of the campaign and extended their unbeaten run against Wales to five matches.
The home side started brightly, controlling possession and threatening through Brennan Johnson and Lewis Koumas, but Denmark grew into the game, with Gustav Isaksen and Oliver Provstgaard going close before half-time. Danny Ward then produced two outstanding saves in quick succession to deny Højlund and Isaksen, before his misplaced pass led to the spot kick, with Højlund making no mistake to score his third goal in his last four Nations League matches.
Best of the rest
- Austria maintained their place at the top of Group B3 with a 1-1 draw in Kosovo. Two substitutes made the key impacts, Fisnik Asllani sweeping the hosts into a 70th-minute lead only for Christoph Lang to head in a late equaliser.
- Troy Parrott made it four goals in three games – all in the first half – for the Republic of Ireland as they drew 1-1 with Israel.
- Azerbaijan are the only unbeaten side, and the new leaders, in Group D2 after beating Lithuania 1-0 – Sabah's Abdulakh Khaibulaev scoring his first international goal to settle the contest – while Malta moved five points clear in Group D1 after edging Andorra 1-0.
Tuesday's fixtures
All times CET; 20:45 kick-off unless stated.
Tuesday 6 October
C3 Kazakhstan vs Faroe Islands (16:00)
A3 Croatia vs Spain
A3 England vs Czechia
B1 Scotland vs Slovenia
B1 Switzerland vs North Macedonia
C1 Albania vs San Marino
C1 Belarus vs Finland
C3 Moldova vs Slovakia
C4 Estonia vs Iceland
C4 Luxembourg vs Bulgaria