The main European football story between 9 and 13 November has been the UEFA Nations League rather than domestic league action. National teams returned for the final phase of the group campaign, and Thursday, 12 November produced results with direct consequences for quarter-final qualification. The next round of fixtures will complete the league phase, so the coming days are especially important for teams still chasing a place in the last eight.
England reach the quarter-finals
England defeated Croatia 2–1 at Wembley. Morgan Rogers scored the opening goal, Petar Sučić equalised for Croatia, and Harry Kane converted the decisive penalty. The win confirmed England’s place in the Nations League quarter-finals.
The match was also a historic appearance for Kane. He became England’s outright record appearance holder with his 126th cap, adding another milestone to his international career. The result was valuable on the pitch and significant for the team’s leadership as the competition moves toward the knockout stage.
Italy beat France in a Group A1 contest
Italy recovered from an early deficit to beat France 3–1. Francesco Pio Esposito equalised before Davide Frattesi and Esposito’s second goal completed the comeback. The result keeps Group A1 finely balanced: Italy and France remain close at the top, with Belgium also in contention after a 2–1 win away to Türkiye.
That three-team race is one of the main stories to follow on the final matchday. A strong result could secure a quarter-final place, while a setback could leave a leading nation outside the top two.
Spain strengthen their position
Spain defeated Czechia 2–0 and maintained its strong position in Group A3. England are already through from the same group, while the other results on Thursday included Albania’s 2–0 victory over Finland, Belarus beating San Marino 2–0, and Montenegro defeating Latvia 2–1. Armenia and Cyprus drew 1–1.
Domestic clubs prepare for the return
The international window has temporarily reduced the focus on the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1. Clubs will now monitor player fitness, travel and availability before the league schedule resumes. The previous weekend included Liverpool’s 3–1 win at Crystal Palace, Manchester United’s 4–4 draw with Aston Villa and Barcelona’s 2–1 victory over Atlético Madrid.
What happens next?
The Nations League group phase continues through 17 November. The final fixtures will determine the quarter-final line-up and settle the remaining relegation and promotion questions across the leagues. For European football supporters, the key themes are now qualification pressure, national-team depth and how international performances carry back into the club season.
Sources:
- UEFA — Nations League Matchday Five highlights: https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/02ab-220e66a3c090-9304054ed1ca-1000--uefa-nations-league-matchday-5-highlights-harry-kane-sends-/
- Reuters — Italy beat France and Kane sets England record: https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/italy-seal-dominant-win-over-france-kane-sets-england-appearance-record-2026-11-12/
- UEFA — League-phase fixtures and results: https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/02a2-1fea18abbcbc-456e846509e7-1000--2026-27-uefa-nations-league-all-the-league-phase-fixtures-f/
- The Guardian — Domestic football results: https://www.theguardian.com/football/results/2026/Nov/09