England secured promotion to League A of the Nations League with a commanding 5-0 win over Ireland, highlighted by goals from Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, Conor Gallagher, Jarrod Bowen, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis. In contrast, Austria drew 1-1 with Slovenia, preventing their own promotion, amid internal strife and dissatisfaction with management. France triumphed over Italy 3-1, while Belgium faced another defeat against Israel, extending their winless streak to five matches.
England’s Dominant Performance Secures Promotion
In the final international match before Thomas Tuchel’s appointment, the England national football team showcased their prowess with a resounding 5-0 victory against Ireland. This impressive win at Wembley Stadium not only marked a significant moment for the ‘Three Lions’ but also guaranteed their promotion to League A of the Nations League, finishing at the top of Group B2 ahead of Greece.
Harry Kane opened the scoring with a penalty in the 53rd minute, followed closely by goals from Anthony Gordon and Conor Gallagher just minutes later. Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis added to the tally in the latter stages of the match. The Irish team struggled to respond after Liam Scales received a yellow-red card early in the second half, which diminished their chances of mounting a comeback.
Austrian Team Falls Short Amid Controversy
Meanwhile, the Austrian national team faced a disappointing outcome as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Slovenia, missing out on direct promotion to League A. Romano Schmid initially put Austria ahead with a goal in the 27th minute, but Slovenia equalized late in the game through Gnezda Cerin. As a result, Austria finished second in their group, behind Norway, which secured its own promotion with a convincing 5-0 win over Kazakhstan, highlighted by a hat-trick from Erling Haaland.
The Austrian team has been marred by internal disputes, particularly concerning the ÖFB leadership. Coach Ralf Rangnick, alongside prominent players like David Alaba, has voiced frustrations regarding the management, which has overshadowed their recent performances on the pitch. With their relegation play-off looming, Austria will need to regroup and focus on securing their place in League A.
In other match highlights, France triumphed over Italy in a top-tier clash, sealing their group victory with a 3-1 win. Adrien Rabiot’s standout performance, including two goals, helped propel France to the top of Group A2.
On the contrary, Belgium continued to struggle, suffering another defeat, this time against Israel. This loss extended their winless streak to five matches, raising concerns about the team’s direction under coach Domenico Tedesco.