7 things you might have missed from Saturday’s early Uefa Nations League matches

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Day three of the newly formed UEFA Nations League began with four matches ahead of the evening’s star-studded clash between England and Spain at Wembley.

Northern Ireland took on Bosnia-Herzegovina at Windsor Park in Group B before Switzerland-Iceland (Group A), Finland-Hungary (Group C) and Belarus-San Marino (Group D) kicked-off simultaneously.

So, to help keep you informed, here are several things you might have missed from the early games.

1. A first meeting


Aside from eliminating the tediousness of international friendlies the UEFA Nations League presents the opportunities of fresh matchups and one such instance occurred at Windsor Park.

The historic ground played host to the first meeting between Northern Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina two nations who in recent years have punched well above their weight. For the hosts Bosnia was their 52nd different European opponents (including the former USSR and Yugoslavia).

2. Leaky defence

Michael O’Neill’s men, though, couldn’t mark this occasion with a victory as Edin Džeko and company ran out narrow 1-2 winners.

The AS Roma marksman – and national team captain – assisted Haris Duljević to score the opener before Elvis Sarić gave them a two-goal cushion.

Will Grigg late on made the scoreline respectable, but his sides defensive fragilities mean for a fourth consecutive home match they’ve failed to keep a clean sheet in front of their supporters, their worst run since March 2013.

3. Bittersweet for Grigg


This was Grigg’s comeback having last played for Northern Ireland in November 2016 against Croatia (a 22-minute cameo in a 0-3 defeat).

His incredible rise, complemented with the now familiar terrance chant that bears his name, made him an unlikely cult hero but there’s more to the Solihull-born marksman than a song even if he hasn’t always shown it at international level.

Grigg’s consolation goal was only his second in green and white; the first came a month before Euro 2016 against Belarus meaning the Wigan striker has ended a goal drought that stood for six hours.

4. Zakaria off the mark

An elegant defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria grew up idolising Patrick Vieira and many of the great Frenchman’s traits are incorporated into his own game.

An excellent reader of the game Zakaria, who joined Young Boys from Servette in 2015 before relocating to Borussia Mönchengladbach two years later, retains and recycles possession efficiently.

Goal scoring, naturally, isn’t part of his repertoire (six goals across 108 matches at senior club level vouches for that) but on his 13th appearance for Switzerland against Iceland he broke his duck.

5. Iceland collapse

Much is now expected of the Icelanders whose recent journey from the periphery of world football to centre stage has captured the imagination.

Their meeting against Switzerland in St. Gallen was expected to be a tight affair, on the count their previous encounters have been closely fought, but it never proved to be that way.

An inspired Swiss side brushed their visitors aside 6-0, with Xherdan Shaqiri’s stunning free-kick the pick of the bunch, a resounding defeat that stretches Iceland’s winless run to eight matches.

It also proved to be their heaviest competitive away defeat since Denmark put the same amount of goals past them in October 2001.

6. Finland’s home comforts

Yet to reach a major international tournament Finland are seemingly on the right path under head coach Markku Kanerva who assumed permanent control in December 2016 following spells as a caretaker.

In the last year Kanerva has turned the Finns home into a fortress; they are now seven matches unbeaten their best run since clocking up eight between September 1999 and May 2002.

The run began with a 1-0 win over Iceland last September and since then Finland have inflicted defeats on Estonia (3-0), Malta (5-0), Belarus (2-0) and now Hungary (1-0).

Turkey (2-2) and FYR Macedonia (0-0) managed to deny their hosts, which is naturally frustrating, but Kanerva can be pleased with his side’s efforts at both ends of the field: 13 goals and two conceded.

7. Need for VAR reaffirmed

San Marino were never expected to leave Belarus with a point let alone all the spoils but they could have been hard done by.

A moment deep in the second half their hosts were awarded a spot kick after marauding full-back Igor Shitov was deemed to have been impended.

On closer inspection, seems a harsh call, the slightest of touches it seemed was enough to bring him down. Or was there a touch? It’s moments like this where having a video assistant referee (VAR) is a benefit. UEFA, despite its success at this summer’s World Cup, are still yet to sanction it in their competitions. A pity.

Belarus would ran out comfortable 5-0 winners compounding San Marino to a 42nd consecutive defeat on the road – a streak that began in September 2003 in Sweden.

The post 7 things you might have missed from Saturday’s early Uefa Nations League matches appeared first on Squawka News.



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