Finally a Sublime Italy win. Italy thump Turkey 4-1 and France win too

In the Group France beat Belgium.This Oliseh is Class. Good win for Sweden over Poland. Lets See what Tomorow Holds.

International Football Round-Up: Nations League Takes Centre Stage

The domestic leagues may have hit the pause button, but international football certainly hasn’t.

The latest international window has brought the UEFA Nations League roaring back into focus, and after the opening two rounds of action there is already plenty to talk about. Big names have stumbled, others have made perfect starts, and a few results have served up exactly the sort of surprise that makes international football so intriguing.

For Swoosh0018, here’s our round-up of the action up to and including Monday, 28 September 2026.

ITALY RESPOND IN STYLE

Italy badly needed a reaction.The Azzurri opened their Nations League campaign with a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, but responded emphatically on Monday night with a 4-1 victory over Türkiye.

Alessandro Bastoni got Italy moving before Davide Frattesi doubled the advantage. Michael Kayode then marked his international debut with a goal to make it a night he certainly won’t forget.Türkiye briefly threatened a comeback through Barış Alper Yılmaz, but Pio Esposito’s header ensured there would be no Italian nerves.

From losing 2-0 at home to scoring four away from home a few days later – international football can change very quickly.

FRANCE LEAVE IT LATE IN BELGIUM

France have made a perfect start, although they had to work extremely hard for their second victory.

After beginning the campaign with a 1-0 win away to Türkiye, Les Bleus travelled to Belgium and emerged with another 1-0 victory. The decisive moment arrived late.

With the match heading towards a goalless draw, Michael Olise produced the breakthrough in the 88th minute to give France all three points.Two matches. Two wins. Two clean sheets.A very tidy beginning for the French.

Belgium, meanwhile, will wonder how their promising opening victory in Italy has been followed by a home defeat just three days later.

GREECE SHOCK GERMANY

On Sunday Evening One of the results of the international window came in Augsburg.

Germany 0 Greece 1.

 

Greece had never previously beaten Germany, but that record disappeared thanks to a second-half Dimitris Kourbelis goal. It also means Greece have opened their Nations League campaign with consecutive victories.

They began with a 2-1 win in Serbia before producing an even bigger result against Germany.

Germany, meanwhile, have started with a draw against the Netherlands followed by defeat at home.

Not the opening they would have wanted. And a Bad Start for Klopp.

PORTUGAL MAKE IT TWO FROM TWO

Portugal have also started impressively.

After beating Wales 1-0 in their opener, they travelled to Oslo and defeated Norway 2-1.

João Félix opened the scoring before Erling Haaland brought Norway level shortly after half-time.

Portugal’s response was immediate, with Gonçalo Ramos restoring the lead and ultimately securing the three points.

The defending Nations League champions therefore have maximum points from their opening two matches.

THE NETHERLANDS WIN IN BELGRADE

The Netherlands followed their opening 1-1 draw against Germany with an important 2-1 away victory over Serbia.

Mexx Meerdink was the Dutch hero, scoring twice as the Oranje collected their first win of the campaign.

Serbia have now suffered consecutive 2-1 home defeats – first against Greece and then against the Netherlands.

England now have to respond quickly, with their next Nations League assignment taking them to Czechia.

Croatia also began Group 3 with an away victory, beating Czechia 2-1, meaning this section already looks like one worth watching closely.

MONDAY NIGHT – 28 SEPTEMBER RESULTS

UEFA Nations League

Belgium 0-1 France
Türkiye 1-4 Italy
Georgia 0-0 Ukraine
Northern Ireland 0-0 Hungary
Romania 2-4 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Sweden 3-1 Poland
Armenia 2-3 Montenegro
Latvia 0-0 Cyprus

AFCON 2027 QUALIFIERS – MONDAY ROUND-UP

While Europe was occupied with the Nations League, the road to AFCON PAMOJA 2027 continued across Africa on Monday, with four Matchday 2 qualifiers producing some interesting early developments.

DR Congo made it two wins from two with an impressive 2-1 victory over Zimbabwe in Harare. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring and then helped create Samuel Moutoussamy’s second before Marshall Munetsi pulled one back late on. DR Congo now sit on six points and have made an excellent start to Group E.

Elsewhere in the group, Equatorial Guinea edged Sierra Leone 1-0, with Loren Zuniga scoring inside the opening minute.

Burkina Faso also picked up an important three points, beating the Central African Republic 1-0 thanks to a second-half goal from teenager Aboubacar Camara.

The evening’s most entertaining encounter came in Group H, where Tunisia and Botswana drew 2-2. Botswana struck first through Thatayaone Kgamanyane before Hazem Mastouri scored either side of half-time to put Tunisia ahead. Lebogang Ditsele levelled matters on the hour to earn Botswana a share of the points.

Monday’s AFCON Qualifying Results

Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe 1-2 DR Congo
Central African Republic 0-1 Burkina Faso
Tunisia 2-2 Botswana

The action continues on Tuesday with a much bigger programme, including Lesotho vs Morocco, Burundi vs Algeria, Ethiopia vs Senegal, Congo vs Cameroon, Ghana vs Gambia and Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria.

For South African supporters, the big one comes on Wednesday when Bafana Bafana face Eritrea, looking to build on their opening 2-1 victory over Guinea.

SWOOSH VIEW

It may only be the beginning of the 2026/27 Nations League, but the opening matches have already given us plenty.

France and Portugal have started with maximum points. Greece have produced one of the early stories of the competition by beating both Serbia and Germany. Italy have gone from a worrying home defeat to a four-goal away victory, while Spain have already claimed a significant result against England.

And that’s exactly why the Nations League has become far more interesting than the old collection of international friendlies.

There are points at stake. There are groups to win. There is promotion and relegation between the leagues. And at the top end, there is another major international trophy waiting at the finish.

The international break rolls on – and judging by what we’ve seen so far, there are still a few twists to come.

Swoosh0018 International Football Round-Up