Italy ensured qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals with a victory over Belgium on Thursday that also guaranteed France a place in the last-eight despite a lacklustre display in a scoreless draw with Israel under tight security in Paris.

Italy and France booked their places in the Nations League quarter-finals with a game to spare.The Azzurri beat Belgium 1-0 with Sandro Tonali scoring his first international goal.The Newcastle midfielder netted from six yards from Giovanni di Lorenzo's pass in Brussels.

France and Italy have qualified for the quarterfinal stage of the revamped Nations League while England got its revenge on Greece ahead of the imminent arrival of Thomas Tuchel as coach.

Italy and France secured quarter-final places and England bounced back against Greece on UEFA Nations League Matchday 5.

France, Italy and Portugal lead the teams attempting to secure a place in the UEFA Nations League quarter-finals, while England's promotion hopes have been hit by a series of withdrawals.The two-legged quarter-finals are scheduled for March and the four-team finals will take place next June.

France qualified for the quarter-finals of the Nations League despite a lacklustre goalless draw against Israel for their Stade de France homecoming after a 17-month hiatus on Thursday.

On November 17, 2024, football fans worldwide will turn their attention to Stadio Giuseppe Meazza in Milan, where Italy’s national team will take on France in

Paris authorities had been on high alert after last week's incidents in Amsterdam where assaults on Maccabi fans sparked outrage and were widely condemned as antisemitic. Some 4,000 police officers and security staff were deployed in and around the Stade de France at a match attended by French President Emmanuel Macron.

England’s promotion hopes, meanwhile, have been hit by a series of withdrawals. Read more at straitstimes.com.