International football provided high-octane drama across the continent on Monday night as Matchday 2 of the 2026 UEFA Nations League concluded, and our full review of the uefa nations league monday highlights recaps France’s vital bounce-back victory in Lyon, Erling Haaland’s late-game heroics for Norway, and Italy’s continued resurgence in Group A2. Following a stinging opening defeat to Italy in Paris, Didier Deschamps’ French side silenced their critics with a polished 2-0 win over border rivals Belgium at the Groupama Stadium.
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UEFA Nations League Monday Night Full Scoreboard
| Fixture | League / Group | Final Score | Goal Scorers |
|---|---|---|---|
| France vs. Belgium | League A, Group 2 | 2 – 0 | Kolo Muani (29′), Dembélé (57′) |
| Israel vs. Italy | League A, Group 2 | 1 – 2 | Abu Fani (90′) | Frattesi (38′), Kean (62′) |
| Norway vs. Austria | League B, Group 3 | 2 – 1 | Myhre (9′), Haaland (80′) | Sabitzer (37′) |
| Slovenia vs. Kazakhstan | League B, Group 3 | 3 – 0 | Benjamin Šeško (23′, 28′, 63′ Hat-Trick) |
| Turkey vs. Iceland | League B, Group 4 | 3 – 1 | Aktürkoğlu (2′, 52′, 88′ Hat-Trick) | Pálsson (37′) |
Key Match Breakdowns & Tactical Takeaways
1. France 2-0 Belgium: Dembélé Masterclass Quiets Doubters
Facing intense domestic pressure after a lackluster 3-1 home defeat to Italy on Friday, Didier Deschamps made eight changes to his starting XI, benching Kylian Mbappé and Antoine Griezmann. The tactical gambit paid dividends. In the 29th minute, Randal Kolo Muani pounced on a parried rebound from Koen Casteels to smash home the opener.
In the second half, Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembélé produced the highlight of the night, cutting inside onto his left foot from the right flank before unleashing a rocket into the top corner. A visibly frustrated Kevin De Bruyne criticized Belgium’s tactical discipline after the match, questioning the squad’s work rate against elite opposition.
2. Erling Haaland’s 80th-Minute Heroics Rescue Norway
In Oslo, Manchester City superstar Erling Haaland demonstrated his predatory goalscoring instincts once again. Locked at 1-1 against Ralf Rangnick’s stubborn Austria side, Haaland latched onto a headed flick-on from Jostein Gundersen, out-muscled his defender inside the six-yard box, and toe-poked a clinical finish past the goalkeeper in the 80th minute after a tense VAR review confirmed he was onside.
3. Italy Stays Perfect at the Summit
Luciano Spalletti’s revamped Azzurri side continued their strong run of form in Budapest, edging Israel 2-1 behind goals from Inter Milan midfielder Davide Frattesi and Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. With six points from six, Italy commands Group A2.
League A, Group 2 Standings After Matchday 2
| Rank | Nation | Pld | W | D | L | GD | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +3 | 6 |
| 2 | France | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Belgium | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 4 | Israel | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -3 | 0 |
What to Watch Next in the Nations League
Matchday 2 concludes Tuesday night with heavyweights England taking on Finland at Wembley Stadium and the Netherlands welcoming Germany in Amsterdam. Full match previews will be available on EsportPort ahead of kickoff!
