LATEST NATIONS LEAGUE RESULTS

Written by Harris and Zac, 10/19/2026. 

Harris

Outcomes from the latest round of UEFA Nations League matches provided fodder for a number of exciting headlines, including a few dramatic comebacks and big wins. Key nations in the news from October 1-6, 2026 included England, Spain, Portugal and France.

The clearest and biggest headline of the international matchday was England's 7-0 win against Croatia on October 3rd. It was just the second time in a century that England scored seven in a match and Croatia's first ever 7-0 loss. Then, a few days later Tuchel’s side then beat Czechia 3-0, a game where captain Harry Kane scored a brace and broke a record previously held by former England player Peter Shilton, making 125 international appearances for his country. With the current standings, England looks good to progress to the next round and have a good chance of winning it this year. 

Spain also had the same great results as England as they started October with a 3-1 win against Czechia, before beating Croatia 2-1, extending their unbeaten streak to four games and now qualified for the quarter-finals.

On October 5, France defeated Belgium 4-1, with Belgium scoring the opening goal of the match, only for France to proceed to score four goals. Rayan Cherki and Michael Olise both scored their first international goals in the process of this tournament. On the same day, Portugal kept their good run of form after beating Norway 2-1 thanks to Gonçalo Ramos' goal very late in the game.

In general, there has been an increase in the competitiveness of the Nations League due to recent games played. This is caused by England and Spain having proven they are capable of scoring goals whereas France and Portugal have shown that they are capable of overcoming difficult teams. The group stage of the competition will take place in November, and there will be a struggle for qualification.

Zac

Harris made some fair points about England and Spain, but looking at the tactical shifts this window, I’m honestly much more focused on Wales and France.

Wales (my nation) showed some serious resilience this break, especially against Norway. We really held our own and proved we can battle against physical sides. We definitely struggled a bit in the other matches, but you have to look at the context, our squad was hit hard by injuries. Without our main playmakers such as Joe Rodon, Harry Willson, David Brooks, and our first choice keeper Karl Darlow, the tactical balance was just off. But one of the biggest positives right now is seeing so many of our guys playing at a high level in the Premier League, and it really translates to how we play internationally.

A perfect example is Neco Williams, who is proving his worth at Nottingham Forest and then stepped up to hit that incredible free kick against Norway. But the biggest standout for me has been Sorba Thomas. With our top guys out, he completely took on the creative burden. You can watch him playing for Hull City in the Prem this season and see exactly why he’s so crucial. His work rate, crossing, and the way he constantly drives the ball forward make him an incredibly exciting player, truly an amazing player with world class potential. Once we get our full squad fully fit, he’s going to be an essential piece of our attack.

On the other side of things, if we're talking about who is actually going to take over and has been taking over international football, it’s France. Under Zinedine Zidane, it’s not even a debate. You can just tell Zidane knows exactly how to win the massive games, and that confidence completely transforms the team. It makes total sense when you consider he's the only manager in history to have a 100% win rate in the UCL, winning three consecutive Champions League titles (which is almost impossible to do), and he brings that exact same winning mentality to Les Bleus.

A huge reason they are looking so unstoppable right now is Michael Olise. Whether he's destroying the right wing for Bayern Munich at the club level or sliding perfectly into this France squad, he is absolutely controlling the wing. In my eyes, and a lot of others, he is easily the best right winger in the world right now and a genuine top 3 contender for the Ballon d'Or. People like to compare him to Lamine Yamal, and while it's definitely close because Yamal is an incredible young talent, Olise’s current form at Bayern, his composure, and his ability to completely dictate games give him the edge. With Zidane pulling the tactical strings and generational talents like Olise, Doue Mbappe, Dembelle Cherki and so many other truly world class players hitting their stride for both club and country, France is basically set to dominate this Nations League and pretty much every international tournament for the next decade.