Nations League matchday 4 preview: France host Belgium, Greece meet Germany again, and Croatia take on Spain

Matchday 4 starts on Sunday, the day after matchday 3 ends, and every pairing is a return fixture. The fixture to watch first is France v Belgium on Monday at the Stade de France: France lead League A, Group 1 by a point and have won the last six meetings on record, the latest 1–0 in Brussels on 28 September. On Sunday Greece, unbeaten and top of Group 2, host Germany, whom they beat 1–0 in Augsburg on 27 September, and Portugal, nine points from nine, host Norway in Porto. Tuesday brings Croatia v Spain and England v Czechia.

Sunday

Azerbaijan v Lithuania (13:00 UTC). League D, Group 2, in Baku. Lithuania lead on four points; Azerbaijan have two from two draws, the first 1–1 in Kaunas on 27 September.

Kosovo v Austria (16:00 UTC). League B, Group 3, in Pristina. Austria lead on seven points; Kosovo have four. Austria won 3–1 in Vienna on 27 September, the only meeting on record.

Malta v Andorra (16:00 UTC). League D, Group 1. Malta lead on four points, Andorra have one. Malta are unbeaten in five meetings in this competition since 2020, the latest 2–1 in Andorra on 24 September.

Greece v Germany (18:45 UTC). League A, Group 2, at the Toumba Stadium in Thessaloniki. Greece have seven points, the Netherlands five, Germany four after Thursday's 2–0 against Serbia. Germany had won the two previous meetings on record, 2–1 in a 2024 friendly and 4–2 at Euro 2012. Sportschau reports that Jürgen Klopp has left Serge Gnabry out of his matchday squad, which UEFA limits to 23 players, with Elversberg's Felix Keidel taking his place, and that Greece are without the injured Christos Tzolis.

Netherlands v Serbia (18:45 UTC). The other Group 2 match, at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven. The Netherlands won 2–1 in Belgrade on 27 September, the only meeting on record; Serbia have lost all three. The KNVB says Cody Gakpo is out for the rest of the window, with no replacement called up.

Portugal v Norway (18:45 UTC). League A, Group 4, at the Estádio do Dragão. Portugal have won all three and lead by six points; Norway lost 2–1 at home to them on 27 September, the only meeting on record. Portugal carry on without Cristiano Ronaldo, who left the camp in Copenhagen; the FPF called up no replacement, and Jorge Jesus has called the matter closed, according to A Bola.

Wales v Denmark (18:45 UTC). The other Group 4 match, in Cardiff. Wales, Denmark and Norway all have three points. Denmark have won all four meetings on record, the latest 2–0 in Copenhagen on 27 September.

Republic of Ireland v Israel (18:45 UTC). League B, Group 3. The Republic of Ireland have four points, Israel one; Ireland won 3–0 in Debrecen on 27 September, the only meeting on record. Ireland's home match is behind closed doors at the TSC Arena in Bačka Topola, Serbia: RTÉ reported in June that the FAI cited "operational challenges" and UEFA approved the move. AFP reports that Gavin Bazunu has pulled out of both Israel matches, and the Irish Times that Abankwah is suspended.

Monday

Cyprus v Latvia (16:00 UTC). League C, Group 2, in Nicosia. Cyprus have four points, Latvia one. It was 0–0 in Riga on 28 September and 1–1 in a friendly in March 2024.

France v Belgium (18:45 UTC). League A, Group 1. France have seven points, Belgium six. France's six straight wins include three knockout ties: the 2018 World Cup semi-final, the 2021 Nations League semi-final and the Euro 2024 round of 16. Dayot Upamecano was sent off for a second booking against Italy, and franceinfo reported that Kylian Mbappé, injured in Türkiye, would miss France's next three Nations League matches.

Italy v Türkiye (18:45 UTC). The other Group 1 match, in Bologna. Italy have four points; Türkiye have lost all three, scoring one and conceding eight. Italy won 4–1 in Bursa on 28 September and are unbeaten in four meetings on record, including a 0–0 friendly in Bologna in June 2024.

Ukraine v Hungary (18:45 UTC). League B, Group 2, in Trnava. Ukraine and Hungary have four points each, three behind Northern Ireland. Ukraine won 1–0 in Budapest on 25 September.

Northern Ireland v Georgia (18:45 UTC). The other Group 2 match, at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland have seven points and have not conceded; Georgia have one and have not scored. Northern Ireland won 1–0 in Tbilisi on 25 September.

Bosnia and Herzegovina v Poland (18:45 UTC). League B, Group 4, in Zenica, and Bosnia and Herzegovina's first match since Edin Džeko's last international, against Sweden on Friday. They have five points, Poland four after a 6–0 against Romania. It was 0–0 in Warsaw on 25 September; Poland won both meetings in the 2020 Nations League, 2–1 and 3–0.

Romania v Sweden (18:45 UTC). The other Group 4 match, in Bucharest. Sweden lead on seven points; Romania have none and have conceded twelve. Sweden won 2–1 in Solna on 25 September and both Euro 2020 qualifiers in 2019.

Montenegro v Armenia (18:45 UTC). League C, Group 2, in Podgorica. Montenegro have won all three; Armenia have three points. Montenegro won 3–2 in Yerevan on 28 September.

Tuesday

Kazakhstan v Faroe Islands (14:00 UTC). League C, Group 3, led by Slovakia on seven points. The Faroe Islands have drawn all three; Kazakhstan have one point. It was 1–1 in the Faroes on 26 September.

Croatia v Spain (18:45 UTC). League A, Group 3, whose third round is on Saturday. The match is at Poljud in Split, the HNS says. Spain won 4–1 in Seville on 29 September. Of eight meetings on record since 2012, Spain have won six, one of them the 2023 Nations League final on penalties after 0–0, and Croatia two, at Euro 2016 and 3–2 in Zagreb in November 2018.

England v Czechia (18:45 UTC). The other Group 3 match, at Wembley. England won 2–0 in Prague on 29 September, 1–0 at Euro 2020 and 5–0 in March 2019; Czechia won 2–1 in Prague in October 2019. The FA said on Friday that Nico O'Reilly had left the camp for treatment.

Switzerland v North Macedonia (18:45 UTC). League B, Group 1, which also plays on Saturday. Switzerland won 3–0 in Skopje on 26 September, the only meeting on record.

Scotland v Slovenia (18:45 UTC). The other Group 1 match, at Hampden. It was 0–0 in Ljubljana on 26 September; in 2017 World Cup qualifying Scotland won 1–0 at home and drew 2–2 away.

Albania v San Marino (18:45 UTC). League C, Group 1. Albania won 3–0 in Serravalle on 29 September and both World Cup qualifiers in 2021, 2–0 and 5–0.

Belarus v Finland (18:45 UTC). The other Group 1 match. It was 0–0 in Helsinki on 29 September; Finland won a 2–0 friendly in June 2018.

Moldova v Slovakia (18:45 UTC). League C, Group 3. Moldova have four points after Friday's 2–1 in Astana; Slovakia won 2–0 in Prešov on 26 September.

Estonia v Iceland (18:45 UTC). League C, Group 4. It was 1–1 in Reykjavík on 26 September.

Luxembourg v Bulgaria (18:45 UTC). The other Group 4 match. Luxembourg won 2–1 in Gabrovo on 26 September; Bulgaria won 1–0 in Luxembourg in November 2024.

The groups after Friday

• League A, Group 1: France 7 (+2); Belgium 6 (+4); Italy 4 (+1); Türkiye 0 (−7).
• League A, Group 2: Greece 7 (+2); Netherlands 5 (+1); Germany 4 (+1); Serbia 0 (−4).
• League A, Group 4: Portugal 9 (+4); Denmark 3 (−1); Norway 3 (−1); Wales 3 (−2).
• League B: Northern Ireland, Austria and Sweden lead Groups 2, 3 and 4 on seven points.
• League C: Montenegro lead Group 2 on nine, Slovakia Group 3 on seven; in League D, Malta and Lithuania lead on four.
• League A, Group 3, League B, Group 1, and League C, Groups 1 and 4 play their third matches on Saturday.

Numbers to know

• Twenty-six matches: eight on Sunday, eight on Monday, ten on Tuesday. One kicks off at 13:00 UTC, one at 14:00, three at 16:00 and twenty-one at 18:45.
• Fifty-two of the 54 teams play; Liechtenstein and Gibraltar sit out.
• Portugal and Montenegro are the only sides with nine points from nine.
• Northern Ireland have kept three clean sheets in three; Türkiye, Serbia and Romania have lost all three.

Matchday 5 follows on 12–14 November. The full round with kick-off times in your time zone is on the Nations League page.

Sources for the context: The FA, The FA, HNS, KNVB, Scottish FA, AP, AFP, AFP, RTÉ, The Irish Times, Sportschau, Sportschau, franceinfo, A Bola, A Bola.