LONDON: Portugal and France lost their perfect records in this seasons UEFA Nations League after playing out a 0-0 draw against each other on Sunday, and Belgium saw their 13-match unbeaten run ended by a 2-1 defeat against England.

Two of the sports best forwards were kept quiet at a chilly Stade de France.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo had a good chance in the second minute of injury time, but goalkeeper Hugo Lloris palmed away his angled shot from the left. France’s Kylian Mbappe was substituted near the end after having failed to make an impression against the Nations League champions’ resolute defence.

“We didn’t score a goal, but we weren’t here to score goals,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos. “France are a great team. They have great players. It’s not always possible to create opportunities.”

Pepe headed home what he thought was a 74th-minute opener when he got on the end of Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick but was flagged offside.

Mbappe fluffed France’s best when Rui Patricio anticipated his gentle chip when one-on-one with the Portuguese stopper.

Both sides are on seven points, four ahead of Croatia, whose 2-1 home win over Sweden earlier on Sunday was the group’s more entertaining match, with a calamitous late lapse from Pontus Jansson allowing the 2018 World Cup finalists to snatch the points in a soaking Zagreb.

Defender Jansson dawdled under a high ball into the penalty area with six minutes remaining and allowed Ivan Perisic to nip in behind. The Inter Milan winger then squared the ball for Andrej Kramaric to tap in from close range.

Sweden are stuck on no points after losing all three of their matches in Group 3 of League B.

England manager Gareth Southgate said his side showed what they were made of after coming from behind to beat Belgium 2-1 and move top of League A, Group 2 earlier on Sunday.

The Three Lions are on seven points, one ahead of the world’s top-ranked side.

Marcus Rashford’s penalty canceled out Romelu Lukaku’s spot kick in the first half before Mason Mounts looping, deflected shot clinched England’s first victory over a top-ranked team in nine years.

“We are not going to face a more difficult game defensively,” said Southgate. “That is the beauty of the Nations League, you get games against this level of opponent. It’s a great experience for them and to go and win it should give them a sense of what might be possible in the next few years.”

Denmark are three points behind England in third after their simple 3-0 win over bottom side Iceland.

Italy were held to a 0-0 draw against Poland in Gdansk but remained top of League A, Group 1 after the Netherlands drew by the same score against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

New Juventus signing Federico Chiesa missed the chance to win the match for the dominant ‘Azzurri’ from close range in the 11th minute.

Roberto Mancini’s side are one point ahead of the Netherlands ahead of their meeting in Bergamo on Wednesday.

“We had several opportunities, especially in the first half when we could have scored at least two goals,” said Mancini. “Beyond the result, however, we are happy. We didn’t score, but it happens.”

Erling Haaland netted a hat-trick to help Norway thrash Romania 4-0 and assuage their European Championship playoff disappointment.

Haaland struck in the 13th, 64th and 74th minutes while Alexander Sorloth scored Norway’s other goal. Haaland already has six goals in the competition.

Norway, who lost a Euro 2020 playoff to Serbia on Thursday, are level on six points with leaders Austria in Group 1 of League B. Austria beat hosts Northern Ireland 1-0.

Finland beat Bulgaria 2-0 in Group 4 of League B and Ireland drew 0-0 against Wales.

Also in League B, it was: Israel 1, Czech Republic 2; Scotland 1, Slovakia 0; Russia 1, Turkey 1; and Serbia 0, Hungary 1.

There were four draws in League C: Armenia 2, Georgia 2; Estonia 3, North Macedonia 3; Kazakhstan 0, Albania 0; and Lithuania 2, Belarus 2.

Also, Greece beat Moldova 2-0 and Slovenia won 1-0 in Kosovo.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2020