Italy and security-tight France lock up Nations League quarter-final spots

PARIS – Italy qualified for the Nations League quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Belgium on Nov 14, which also guaranteed France a spot in the last eight despite a lacklustre display in a 0-0 draw with Israel under tight security in Paris.

In Brussels, the Italians were economical as they edged out Belgium in Group A2.

The visitors dominated the early stages and scored after 11 minutes. A cross from fullback Giovanni di Lorenzo deflected into the path of Sandro Tonali for a tap-in.

Belgium’s best chance came when centre back Wout Faes hit the post with a second-half header.

“We showed again that we give it a go and don’t just sit back in matches, that’s the big change,” Tonali told Italian broadcaster RAI.

“There’s a great atmosphere in the squad and we all look forward to getting back together again every time the international break finishes.”

Luciano Spalletti’s team, who have been rejuvenated over the course of the Nations League group stage, are unbeaten since the European Championship in June. They drew with Belgium in October after having to play over half the match in Rome with 10 men.

Domenico Tedesco’s Belgium, meanwhile, are six points behind second-placed France with one game remaining and cannot reach the quarter-finals after only beating Israel.

“The lads did well, because the pitch got really heavy in the second half, we lost a bit of sharpness when in possession and made a few too many misplaced passes,” Spalletti told RAI Sport.

“As we said before the game, in places like this, you have to keep the ball, that is essential to take the pressure off and control the game.

“When Belgium pinned us back into our own half, it was tough, but they fought like lions.”

At the Stade de France in Paris, tentative France struggled to create and take chances as they drew with Israel before a crowd of just under 17,000 in a stadium that holds up to 80,000.

Around 4,000 police and members of the security forces patrolled inside and outside the ground to prevent a repeat of the attacks on fans of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv in Amsterdam on Nov 7.

Stewards had to intervene at one point to stop fans of both teams from clashing in the stands, an AFP reporter saw.

Around 100 Israeli fans attended the match despite calls from Israeli authorities to stay away.

On the pitch, it took until the 20th minute for captain N’Golo Kante, jinking into the six-yard box, to force a first save from goalkeeper Daniel Peretz.

France managed 24 attempts on goal but Peretz had to make only two diving saves in the second half, first from Warren Zaire-Emery and then in added time from Christopher Nkunku.

“Anger. Frustration,” said France fullback Jules Kounde when asked for his immediate reaction by French broadcaster TF1.

“The only good point from tonight is that qualification is assured.”

Italy lead the group by three points but France could still take first place when the teams meet in Milan on Nov 17.

“I can’t be satisfied with what we produced,” Les Bleus coach Didier Deschamps said. “We should have won. We’re capable of doing better. We could have done more against an opponent that was very compact and wasted a lot of time.

“We had the chances to win, but we weren’t efficient enough. There was much more energy in the second half, but we still couldn’t score.”

He added that he was unsure of his line-up against Italy.

“I don’t know. I need to take stock. I can’t answer that right now. There will definitely be some changes,” he said.

“I’ll wait until the final training session on Saturday. Playing three days later is never easy, and there’s fatigue, which is normal and not an excuse, but the players’ bodies are under strain.” AFP, REUTERS