That’s it for tonight’s blog. It’s been another night of competitive Nations League action, with a lot of close games and no thundering mismatches. Please join us tomorrow for more of the same, including Iceland v England. Goodnight!
Tonight’s final scores
- A1 Italy 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 1-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 1-2 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-1 Northern Ireland
- B2 Scotland 1-1 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 1-3 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-2 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan
In other news
Full time: Italy 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
A slight surprise in Florence, where Italy have been held. Edin Dzeko gave Bosnia and Herzegovina the lead; Stefano Sensi equalised 10 minutes later.
Full time: Romania 1-1 Northern Ireland
They may have a new manager in Ian Baraclough, but that was a familiar triumph of the human spirit for Northern Ireland. They went behind to a dodgy goal and lost Josh Magennis to an even dodgier red card, all before half-time, but Bailey Peacock-Farrell kept them in the game and the substitute Gavin Whyte pilfered a late equaliser.
Updated
Full time: Scotland 1-1 Israel
Peep peep! A frustrating night for Scotland, who struggled to create chances and were denied victory by a storming late equaliser from Eran Zahavi.
Full time: Netherlands 1-0 Poland
Peep peep! Steven Bergwijn has given Netherlands victory in their first game since the departure of Ronald Koeman.
Romania 1-1 Northern Ireland And now Denis Alibec has hit the bar for Romania! I think Peacock-Farrell got fingertips on that; if so, it was a stunning save.
Updated
GOAL! Romania 1-1 Northern Ireland (White 86)
Ten-man Northern Ireland are level! A free-kick was pumped forward and headed towards the far post, where the substitute Gavin Whyte calmly headed past Tatarusanu.
Updated
Slovakia 1-3 Czech Republic Ivan Schranz gets a consolation goal.
Make that Slovakia 0-3 Czech Republic. Michael Krmencik has sealed an excellent victory in Bratislava.
The latest scores with a few minutes remaining
- A1 Italy 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 1-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 1-2 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland (Magennis sent off)
- B2 Scotland 1-1 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 0-2 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-2 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan (FT)
Scotland 1-1 Israel At the moment Israel look the likelier winners. They haven’t created much apart from the goal but are having their best spell of the match by far.
Belarus 0-2 Albania Keidi Bare has doubled Albania’s lead in Minsk.
Scotland 1-1 Israel It’s hard to begrudge Israel a draw. Scotland haven’t done enough going forward, and whatever happens in the last 14 minutes, there’s plenty for Steve Clarke to think about before next month’s Euro 2020 playoff.
GOAL! Scotland 1-1 Israel (Zahavi 73)
Israel have equalised this time! It’s a brilliant goal from Eran Zahavi. He received a throw-in, played a quick one-two on the edge of the area and thrashed the bouncing ball past David Marshall. That’s a devastating finish.
Updated
Scotland 1-0 Israel How did that stay out? Eli Dasa, the right-back, curls a sensational cross that somehow evades everyone in the six-yard box.
GOAL! Italy 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sensi 67)
Italy were behind for precisely 10 minutes. Stefano Sensi, the Internazionale midfielder, has brought them level by scoring an association football goal.
Updated
The latest scores
- A1 Italy 0-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 1-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 1-2 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland (Magennis sent off)
- B2 Scotland 1-0 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 0-2 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-1 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan (FT)
It’s been another night of close games, which is one of the main selling points of the Nations League. This maverick Uefa idea might be a keeper.
Norway 1-2 Austria Norway have pulled one back in Oslo. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you who scored the goal.
GOAL! Italy 0-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina (Dzeko 57)
Edin Dzeko has given Bosnia and Herzegovina a surprise lead in Florence!
GOAL! Netherlands 1-0 Poland (Bergwijn 61)
The Netherlands, who were runners-up in the inaugural Nations League, have finally taken the lead thanks to a tap-in from Spurs’ Steven Bergwijn.
Updated
Scotland 1-0 Israel The second half has been much the same as the first: lots of Scotland possession, not much penetration. Their attacking has been surprisingly narrow.
The latest scores
- A1 Italy 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 0-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 0-2 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland (Magennis sent off)
- B2 Scotland 1-0 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 0-2 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-1 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan (FT)
Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland Bailey Peacock-Farrell has kept ten-man Northern Ireland in the game with a terrific diving save from George Puscas’s header.
Norway 0-2 Austria A penalty from the brilliant Marcel Sabitzer has put Austria 2-0 up in Oslo.
Slovakia 0-2 Czech Republic And now they are 2-0 up thanks to a penalty from Borek Dockal.
Slovakia 0-1 Czech Republic Vladimir Coufal has scored early in the second half to give the Czech Republic the lead in Bratislava.
Peep peep! The second halves are under way. It’s still goalless in the two League A matches: Italy v Bosnia and Herzegovina and Netherlands v Poland.
Peep peep! It’s half time around Europe, and these are the scores:
- A1 Italy 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 0-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 0-1 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland (Magennis sent off)
- B2 Scotland 1-0 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 0-0 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-1 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan (FT)
GOAL! Scotland 1-0 Israel (Christie 45 pen)
Ryan Christie slams an emphatic penalty into the top left corner. Ofir Marciano had no chance.
Updated
PENALTY TO SCOTLAND! A corner is headed down by Dykes towards McGinn, who gets to the bouncing ball a split-second before Tibi and is fouled.
Updated
Scotland 0-0 Israel The first big chance of the match goes to Israel. A right-wing cross is misjudged by McTominay and reaches Dabbur, whose first header is saved by the diving Marshall.
Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland: Josh Magennis is sent off! He was booked earlier in the game and has received a second yellow for putting his arm across the face of Alexandru Maxim. It’s an absurd decision, never a yellow card, but Northern Ireland are down to 10 men.
Updated
Norway 0-1 Austria Michael Gregoritsch has given Austria the lead against Norway in their B1 clash.
Updated
Scotland 0-0 Israel The new striker Lyndon Dykes hasn’t had much service so far. I haven’t been watching the game closely, as there are 48 other matches to follow, but it does feel like Scotland’s wing-backs haven’t got forward as much as you’d expect given a) the use of a 3-4-2-1 system and b) one of them is the elemental force popularly known as Andy Robertson.
The latest scores
- A1 Italy 0-0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands 0-0 Poland
- B1 Norway 0-0 Austria
- B1 Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland
- B2 Scotland 0-0 Israel
- B2 Slovakia 0-0 Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus 0-1 Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan (FT)
GOAL! Romania 1-0 Northern Ireland (Puscas 25)
Northern Ireland fall behind to a tap-in from George Puscas. He looked offside as he knocked Vlad Chiriches’s pass into the net, but the goal has been given. VAR isn’t being used in the Nations League group stages; let’s not go there.
Updated
Belarus 0-1 Albania A goal! Sokol Cikalleshi has given ever improving Albania the lead in Belarus.
Updated
Scotland 0-0 Israel Scotland have dominated the first 22 minutes without creating any clear chances. They have been noticeably aggressive without the ball, though not so much with it. Yet.
“To be honest, Rob,” says Simon McMahon, “a loss tonight could seriously damage morale ahead of next months play-off, while a win risks breeding complacency. Scotland had better EFFING DRAW!”
“Hello Rob,” says Kári Tulinius. “What do you think will be the 56th Uefa member association to round out Group D2? Surely Uefa can’t let this nonsense go on of having one three team group. My bet’s Greenland. I believe the only thing holding it back is the lack of a Uefa-approved stadium. It’s a popular sport there, as this map of football clubs in Greenland shows.”
This is a map of Greenland. Not just any old map, but a labour of love by Riccardo D'Agnese, who managed to get the badges of virtually every club in the country. This is incredible, a true work of art. More of the same to come in due course!
— Pat's Football Blog (@PatsFballBlog) August 14, 2020
🇬🇱⚽️👏👏
📸: Riccardo D'Agnese pic.twitter.com/2HmtgFQmOj
Apologies, we’ve been having a few technical problems. You’ve missed very little: all seven games are still goalless.
No goals so far in the 7.45pm kick-offs. Northern Ireland have also made a pretty positive start in Romania.
Scotland 0-0 Israel Scotland have made an aggressive start; it’s notable that they are pressing very high up the field.
Peep peep! We’re under way at Hampden, and presumably everywhere else.
Updated
“Evening Rob,” says Aditi Modi. “A tournament with probably the most convoluted format at the end of probably the most convoluted season seems about right, don’t you think?”
Indeed. I was disappointed Uefa didn’t bring back the Intertoto Cup just for this season.
Empty stadiums or no, players of various nationalities are belting out their anthem as I type. It’s time for some Nations League action!
With the exception of Group D2, all the teams will play six games in the league stage of the competition. Covid-permitting, those matches will be completed by 18 November, so this is the stop of a busy period in international football. The finals will then take place in September or October 2021. It’s not ideal, but well, you know.
Updated
“Ok, Rob, I’ll come clean,” says Simon McMahon. “I‘ve kind of lost touch with international football, there’s not exactly been much to write home about for Scotland’s men over the past, say, 22 years. I thought tonight was the Euro play-off. And knowing how these things work, Scotland had better EFFING LOSE!”
Look, it’s really not that difficult to understand: if Scotland win tonight, a point against Brazil on Tuesday will ensure a place in the last 16.
“Hi Rob, hope you are well,” says Simon McMahon. “I’ve got some thoughts tonight, chief among them being Scotland had better EFFING WIN.”
Proof, if any were needed, that the Nations League MATTERS.
Lithuania 0-2 Kazakhstan is the final score in the early kick-off. That’s an excellent win for Kazakhstan, whose next game is at home to Belarus on Tuesday.
This is an interesting game for Scotland, who meet Israel again next month in a Euro 2020 playoff semi-final. That game will also be at Hampden, so this is a slightly deluxe dress rehearsal.
Pre-match reading
In case you missed it: Lionel Messi is staying at Barcelona, for now.
Scotland v Israel team news
Lyndon Dykes, QPR’s Australian-born forward, makes his debut for Scotland. It looks like Scott McTominay will play in a back three.
Scotland (3-4-2-1) Marshall; McTominay, McKenna, Tierney; Forrest, Jack, McGregor, Robertson; McGinn, Christie; Dykes.
Israel (4-3-3) Marciano; Dasa, Tibi, Bitton, Tawatha; Elhamed, Natcho, Peretz; Solomon, Dabbur, Zahavi.
Updated
Romania v Northern Ireland team news
Romania (4-3-1-2) Tatarusanu; Hanca, Chiriches, Tosca, Bancu; Stanciu, Cicaldau, Maxim; Hagi; Puscas, Alibec.
Northern Ireland (3-4-2-1) Peacock-Farrell; McNair, Cathcart, Ballard; Dallas, S Davis, C Evans, Lewis; Magennis, Saville; Washington.
Netherlands v Poland team news
Netherlands (4-3-3) Cillessen; Hateboer, Veltman, van Dijk, Ake; De Roon, Wijnaldum, de Jong; Bergwijn, Depay, Promes.
Poland (4-4-1-1) Szczesny; Kedziora, Glik, Bednarek, Bereszynski; Szymanski, Krychowiak, Klich, Jozwiak; Zielinski; Pjatek.
Italy v Bosnia and Herzegovina team news
Italy (4-3-3) Donnarumma; Florenzi, Bonucci, Acerbi, Biraghi; Pellegrini, Sensi, Barella; Chiesa, Belotti, Insigne.
Bosnia and Herzegovina (4-3-3) Sehic; Cipetic, Sunjic, Sanicanin, Kolasinac; Cimirot, Hadziahmetovic, Gojak; Visca, Dzeko, Hodzic.
Preamble
Hot damn, it’s the Nations League Matchday 1 part two! I don’t know about you, but I’m warming to this tournament. Sure, I don’t have a clue how it relates to World Cup qualification, and it doesn’t feel essential to the morale of society right now. But the basic idea - promotion and relegation in international football - is pretty exciting. And the whole thing feels a lot better with groups of four rather than three.
The main advantage of the divisional structure is that it means a lot more competitive matches than, say, the European Championship qualifiers. Almost all of the teams are playing their peers and thus have a realistic chance of getting a result, which surely beats being spanked 12-0 by Belgium. Last night’s opening round of fixtures bear that out - there were ten games, only one with more than a single goal between the sides.
There is still the broader question of meaning (“career highlight: getting promoted to League C of the Nations League”), but that should become clearer over time, and the signs from the inaugural tournament are that the players have bought into it.
There are eight more games tonight across four groups. The human brain is not yet capable of watching eight matches simultaneously, so we’ll be focussing on the ones in bold. (All are 7.45pm BST kick-offs unless stated)
- A1 Italy v Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A1 Netherlands v Poland
- B1 Norway v Austria
- B1 Romania v Northern Ireland
- B2 Scotland v Israel
- B2 Slovakia v Czech Republic
- C4 Belarus v Albania
- C4 Lithuania 0-1 Kazakhstan (5pm)
Updated
