Belgium came from behind to beat Italy 4–1 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on Sunday night, knocking Roberto Mancini’s side out of the UEFA Nations League and claiming a quarter-final spot on the final matchday.
Italy needed only a draw to qualify after going top of the group with a 3–1 win over France at San Siro three days earlier. Belgium went into the game a point behind and needed a win to go above them.
Francesco Pio Esposito put Italy ahead in the 11th minute, but Belgium hit back with three goals in 11 minutes. Maxim De Cuyper equalised in the 15th minute, Nathan Ngoy put the hosts ahead in the 22nd and Jérémy Doku made it 3–1 in the 26th.
Diego Moreira added Belgium’s fourth in the 80th minute after being set up by Kevin De Bruyne. The Red Devils, who also beat Italy 2–0 in Rome on the opening matchday, finished second in the group with 12 points.
France beat Türkiye 2–1 in Bordeaux to reclaim top spot with 13 points. Italy finished third with 10 points and will stay in League A as one of the two best third-placed teams.
France and Belgium join defending champions Portugal, England and Spain in the quarter-finals. England clinched top spot in Group 3 with a 3–2 win over Spain in Madrid.
Three places are still up for grabs. The Netherlands, Germany and Greece are competing for two of them on Monday, 16 November. The final berth will be decided on Tuesday when Denmark face Norway. A draw will send Denmark through, while Norway must win.
The quarter-final draw will take place in Nyon, Switzerland, on Friday, 20 November, at 1pm Cairo time and 2pm Mecca time. Each group winner will face a runner-up from another group, with the runner-up hosting the first leg. The ties will be played between 25 and 30 March 2027, with the finals scheduled for 9–13 June.
