UEFA Nations League Matchday 6 preview: Spain host England, Italy away to Belgium

Belgium began their campaign with an impressive 2-0 win in the reverse fixture and two victories against Türkiye have ensured their involvement in a three-way tussle for the two quarter-final berths. Speaking after their Matchday 5 success in Izmir, Charles De Ketelaere issued a rallying call ahead of this decider: "We struggled at the start, but after the equaliser we found the solution and played better. We're a good team and hard to beat."

Italy have come a long way since that opening defeat by Belgium, taking ten points from their last four games to reach the group summit. The Azzurri earned their most impressive victory yet under returning coach Roberto Mancini when they swept aside France 3-1 on Thursday. Young Inter striker Pio Esposito took his total to four goals in five Nations League outings with a double in that match.

France missed the chance to secure a quarter-final spot when suffering their maiden defeat in this section, 3-1 away to Italy on Thursday, but Zinédine Zidane remains optimistic of their qualification despite his first reverse at the helm. "We're not going to be worried; it's part of football," he said. "It's better that moments like this happen now. In the first gathering, we won three matches out of four. We're still in the race."

Türkiye may still be without a point after a narrow 2-1 defeat by Belgium last time out, but new coach Sergen Yalçın drew positives after his first game in charge. "I'm pleased with my players' performance and their desire," he said. Arda Güler's supernatural talents can inspire hope too, the Real Madrid creative stunning with an exquisite free-kick to take the lead in Izmir.

Marco Pašalić's 77th-minute finish earned Croatia a 2-1 win when these sides met in Prague on Matchday 1, but Czechia coach Santi Denia did not despair, saying: "It's a shame about the result, but the standard of this group is really high." They proved that again when they gave Spain a run for their money on Thursday, though they still have no points after five games.

Croatia are yet to lose in seven meetings with Czechia (W3 D4), including a 5-1 win in their visitors' only previous trip to Osijek – venue for this encounter – in 2025. Slaven Bilić's side lost 2-1 to England on Thursday, but need only avoid defeat against the Czechs to be sure of third place in this section. "We can't exactly celebrate or feel proud about a loss, but we have to separate the result from the performance," said Bilić.

Without the injured Lamine Yamal, and a number of other first-choice players, Spain were made to sweat for a 2-0 win against Czechia on Thursday, and will be mindful of England's desire to atone for a 3-2 loss when these sides met at Wembley Stadium on Matchday 1. Yamal, their top scorer with four goals, is in contention to return and Luis de la Fuente can also count on the steady production of Álex Baena, who has two goals and two assists from five appearances.

England won 3-2 in Seville in their last away game against Spain in 2018, and Thomas Tuchel's side could yet overhaul the world and European champions to top the section. "It's the perfect opportunity now on Sunday to try and prove ourselves," said captain Harry Kane, who extended his tally for the Nations League season to seven goals as he became England most-capped men's player in the 2-1 win against Croatia.

The two form teams in the section – both have taken seven points from their last three matches – meet with qualification on the line, and Jürgen Klopp is understandably excited about this pivotal finale. "The final game should be a great one," said the Germany coach, who praised in-form pair Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz after their 3-1 success in Serbia on Friday. "We're really looking forward to Monday – we can't wait for the Netherlands," he added.

Xavi Hernández can also call on a player at the peak of his powers after Tijjani Reijnders struck a hat-trick in the Oranje's 7-0 success against Greece, though the midfielder has warned Germany that there are plenty of strings to the Dutch bow. "It was a very good game from our side, especially with the runs in behind, not only from me but from our wing-backs and wingers," he said. "There was a lot of threat and they had difficulty with that."

Christos Tzolis urged his Greece team-mates to clear their heads quickly following that heavy defeat in the Netherlands on Friday, insisting they focus on the bigger prize still up for grabs in their final section outing. "Tomorrow is a new day; we have a big game on Monday, and our focus is there," he said. "We just have to skip this one and try to end with a good win because we can still finish second."

Serbia continue to seek their first points after a 3-1 defeat by Germany on Friday. The closest they have come to breaking that duck came in their reverse fixture with Greece on Matchday 1 when Tasos Douvikas headed a 95th-minute winner for Ivan Jovanović's side. "When we had the ball, we were effective," coach Veljko Paunović noted that day. "We need to have more self-belief and not be in a hurry to finish attacks." Those words may suggest a route forward in this return meeting.

Having watched his team become the first in the group to beat Portugal via Saturday's 4-1 away victory, Brian Riemer wants Denmark to make their pressing, possession-based style tell again. "We said in the locker room before we went on the pitch that this game and the game on Tuesday can define this football team going forward," he explained, with his players requiring a draw to advance.

Norway ended a three-match losing run by beating Wales 3-1 at home on Saturday. Their task now is to earn their first away victory of the competition, and their 3-2 win over Denmark on Matchday 1 – helped by two Erling Haaland goals – could offer inspiration. "We're always looking forward to the next challenge and we have confidence," said midfielder Sander Berge. "We've shown what we can do over recent years and it will be a great match: a Scandinavian derby away."

Craig Bellamy praised Wales' performance in their loss to Norway, which featured a fine strike by David Brooks to halve the deficit, and suggested the fourth-placed side will aim to be bold again. "It's just a great game: to play Portugal at home, the reigning Nations League champions," said the coach, whose team's sole points came in their home win against Norway on Matchday 3. "Let's go and enjoy ourselves against, really, one of the best teams in the world."

Portugal captain Bruno Fernandes wants the confirmed quarter-finalists to see their defeat against Denmark as "a night of learning", insisting "there are positive aspects to take into the next one". Coach Jorge Jesus began his reign with a 1-0 home win against Wales, one of four consecutive wins that secured his team's qualification, and his mission now is to stay perfect on the road with victory in Cardiff.