Nations League returns in style: Mbappé leads France as Zidane starts with win

Mbappé gives Zidane a successful start

The match was not easy for France, as Turkey tried to get back into the game in the second half, but the French defence and goalkeeper Mike Maignan preserved the lead.

Mbappé scored his 67th international goal for France, but the match also brought concern for the French after the captain suffered an injury during the goal-scoring move.

Belgium overcome Italy

In another major encounter, Belgium beat Italy 2-0 in Rome to begin their campaign with three important points.

The round also saw Norway beat Denmark in an exciting match, with Erling Haaland scoring twice, while Germany's match against the Netherlands ended in a draw at the start of Jürgen Klopp's era with the German national team.

England and Spain: a highly anticipated clash

Attention turns today, Saturday, to Wembley Stadium, where England and Spain meet in Group A3.

The match will be played on 26 September 2026 at 19:45 UK time, bringing together two of Europe's leading forces.

The match is part of the opening round of the UEFA Nations League, which began on 24 September and continues throughout the current international break.

A busy European season

European activity these days is not limited to national teams, with the Champions League and Europa League also continuing after the league phase of both competitions began in September.

UEFA data indicates that the current season is attracting major interest in European competitions, alongside record figures for attendances and clubs' spending on transfers.

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