Belgium thrash Italy to qualify for Nations League knockout stage alongside France

Belgium secured a place in the Nations League knockout stage after overturning the group standings with a commanding 4-1 victory over Italy in their final group match.

Maxim De Cuyper, Nathan Ngoy, Jeremy Doku and Diego Moreira were on target for Belgium, while Francesco Pio Esposito scored Italy’s only goal.

The result moved Belgium from third place into the group’s two qualifying positions. They finished second with 12 points, behind leaders France on 13.

Italy ended the group in third with 10 points, while Turkey finished bottom without a point.

The defeat extended Italy’s difficult run against Belgium, with the Azzurri now without a win in their past three meetings. Belgium had already beaten them 2-0 in the opening match of the group stage, while the sides drew 2-2 in the same competition in 2024.

Italy’s most recent victory over Belgium came in 2024, when they won 1-0 in the Nations League.

Italy took the lead after 11 minutes when Esposito converted from a cross by Michael Kayode.

The goal also saw Esposito move past Italy great Francesco Totti in terms of international goals. The 21-year-old has now scored 10 times in 15 appearances for the Azzurri, while Totti scored nine goals in 58 matches for his country.

Belgium responded four minutes later. De Cuyper finished from inside the six-yard box to bring the visitors level.

Ngoy then put Belgium ahead in the 22nd minute after the ball deflected off the Italian defence and fell to him inside the area. He made no mistake with his finish.

Doku added a third four minutes later, beating several defenders before sending his shot into the net.

Belgium completed the scoring in the 80th minute when Moreira finished a swift counter-attack.

Italy were awarded a penalty in the 90th minute, but Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens saved the spot-kick to preserve his side’s three-goal advantage.

Elsewhere in the group, France beat Turkey 2-1 to finish top.

Turkey defender Emirhan Topcu accidentally put the ball into his own net to give France the lead. Eli Junior Kroupi doubled their advantage in the 80th minute, before Abdulkerim Bardakcı scored for Turkey in the 90th minute.

France and Belgium therefore claimed the two qualification places for the knockout stage.