Mbappe Hands France Victory In UNL Opener
06 September, 2020
Sweden 0-1 France
France laboured to a narrow 1-0 win over Sweden in their opening UEFA Nations League clash at the Friends Arena.
Sweden had a better opening period and really should have been 1-0 ahead seven minutes before the break after Marcus Berg went clear within the box but Les Bleus goalkeeper Hugo Lloris rushed off his line to create a crucial save from close range.
However, France were clinical as they broke the deadlock with their first big chance within the last four minutes of the first stanza after Kylian Mbappe went past two challenges and found the trunk of the web with a strike from an acute angle.
Didier Deschamps' men had a glorious chance to win by two goals with a penalty awarded to them within the last action of the game but Antoine Griezmann struck his spot-kick over the bar.
Les Bleus did enough though to win their opening game nonetheless they had to stay for another spot in League A Group 3 after Portugal thrashed Croatia 4-1 in their opener.
Denmark 0-2 Belgium
Belgium started their UEFA Nations League campaign on an excellent note after scoring on either half to beat Denmark 2-0 at Telia Parken.
The Red Devils had a dream start as Jason Danayer opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a strike from close range after a cross by Dries Mertens from a corner situation.
The sides were fashioning chances from then on but the tempo of the match slowed down in the latter stages of the first stanza and Belgium visited the break leading by an odd goal.
Mertens gave Belgium a two-goal cushion with 14 minutes remaining as Roberto Martinez's charges held on to secure the three points to go top of Group 2 in League Some time Denmark were left at the bottom and without points.
Other results:
Gilbralta 1-0 San Marino
North Macedonia 2-1 Armenia
Azerbaijan 1-2 Luxembourg
Cyprus 0-2 Montenegro
Estonia 0-1 Georgia
Iceland 0-1 England
Portugal 4-1 Croatia
Source: www.soccerladuma.co.za