Nations League A Round 4: Belgium Finds New Momentum, Dutch Captain's Suspension Sparks Crisis

The Nations League A’s fourth round resumed early on October 15, and the action has been intense as Belgium and the Netherlands faced critical moments in their campaigns. Belgium, long known for their “Golden Generation,” now finds itself transitioning as stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku enter the twilight of their careers. However, the new wave of talent, led by players like Youri Tielemans and Leandro Trossard, is stepping up and showing promise in attack. On the other hand, the Netherlands faced a crucial match against Germany without their captain Virgil van Dijk, who was suspended, leaving the Dutch defense under heavy scrutiny.

Belgium vs France - A Hard-Fought Draw Against 10-Man Italy

Coming into this round, few would have predicted that Belgium, missing key players like De Bruyne and Lukaku, could hold off Italy in such a determined fashion. Italy’s defensive resilience, known for frustrating even the best versions of Belgium’s "Golden Generation," seemed likely to stifle any Belgian efforts. Nevertheless, this iteration of Belgium, less burdened by past expectations, managed to secure a hard-fought 2-2 draw.

Italy wasted no time making their intentions clear. Within the first minute, Federico Dimarco exposed a gap on the left flank, delivering a low cross into the box that led to a quick series of shots from Andrea Cambiaso, who smashed home the opening goal. Dimarco continued to be a nightmare for Belgium’s backline, orchestrating Italy's second goal with another pinpoint delivery that carved through the Belgian defense.

Belgium’s early struggles were evident as Italy’s high press kept them pinned back in their own half. By the midway point of the first half, Belgium looked lucky not to be down by three goals, as Italy’s relentless pressure kept the Red Devils scrambling to stay in the game. However, the turning point came just before halftime. As Belgium managed to dispossess Italy in midfield, Italy’s Lorenzo Pellegrini recklessly slid in with studs up, earning a straight red card and giving Belgium a glimmer of hope.

Belgium capitalized on the man advantage. Trossard, known for his intelligence and positioning, made a clever off-the-ball run to exploit Italy’s retreating defense. Receiving a quick one-two pass at the top of the box, he found De Cuyper, whose left-footed shot curled beautifully into the bottom right corner, giving Belgium a much-needed boost just before the break.

In the second half, Belgium piled on the pressure, and soon enough, they drew level from a well-worked corner kick. Despite Italy’s tactical substitutions to reinforce their defense, Belgium continued to search for the winner but were ultimately held at bay. Still, for a team missing its talismanic leaders, a draw against Italy on their home turf was a morale-boosting result.

France Outclass Israel - Another Dominant Display

Meanwhile, France delivered a professional performance against Israel, winning 4-1 in what felt like a foregone conclusion. The match followed a familiar script for Les Bleus, who took the lead early through Eduardo Camavinga’s composed finish just seven minutes into the game. Although Israel managed to pull level briefly, Christopher Nkunku restored France's advantage moments later with a sharp finish.

France dominated possession but found Israel difficult to break down after their second goal. It wasn’t until the dying moments, when Israel’s high pressing left them exposed, that France capitalized on the space, scoring twice more to ensure Israel’s relegation to League B.

France's domination in their previous encounter with Belgium was also fresh in the minds of many, as they had bombarded the Belgian goal with 26 shots, scoring twice while keeping Belgium scoreless. However, despite the continued absence of De Bruyne and Lukaku, Belgium showed potential in their ability to play with freedom, largely thanks to the growth of players like Tielemans and Trossard. As the two prepare for their next meeting, both teams will look to build on their performances and draw out at least a fraction of their full potential.

Germany vs Netherlands - A Crucial Decider Without Van Dijk

The stakes were equally high for the Netherlands as they faced Germany in a pivotal showdown. Both teams were coming off less-than-impressive results in their previous matches, with the Netherlands drawing 1-1 against Hungary and Germany eking out a narrow win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. For the Dutch, the absence of captain Virgil van Dijk, suspended due to a red card, loomed large over the squad.

Hungary has historically been a tough venue for top teams, and this occasion was no different. The Netherlands were under pressure from the start, with Hungary’s Ádám Szalai opening the scoring in the 32nd minute, catching the Dutch off-guard. Hungary’s deep-lying defense frustrated the Oranje for much of the game, forcing them into hurried and misplaced passes. The tension boiled over late in the match when Van Dijk picked up two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving the Netherlands to finish the game with ten men.

Dutch head coach Ronald Koeman opted for a cautious approach, replacing winger Xavi Simons with center-back Matthijs de Ligt after Van Dijk’s dismissal, a decision that could have backfired. However, luck smiled on the Dutch when they equalized just two minutes later in an unexpected turn of events. Despite the result, the missed opportunity to secure all three points left the Netherlands needing to beat Germany to keep their hopes alive.

Germany, on the other hand, carried a narrow points lead into this match after a 2-1 victory over Bosnia. Striker Deniz Undav had been the standout performer, scoring twice in the first half to give Germany control. His Stuttgart teammate Ermedin Demirovic played a supporting role for Bosnia, providing service for veteran striker Edin Džeko, who eventually found the back of the net to make the game interesting. Still, Germany’s defense held firm, and they now sit ahead of the Dutch not just on goal difference but on points.

This upcoming clash between Germany and the Netherlands is expected to be a fiercely contested battle. Both teams have been inconsistent in recent fixtures, but with a place in the knockout stages at stake, neither can afford to hold back. While it remains uncertain whether either team will field their strongest lineup, those who do take the field will give everything to secure a win. Fans are anticipating a hard-fought match where both sides may only be able to showcase a fraction of their full potential, but that could still be enough to decide this crucial encounter.

With Van Dijk out, all eyes will be on De Ligt, who will need to step up and anchor the Dutch defense against a German side that has been improving steadily. Undav, having found his scoring touch, will be Germany’s key threat, while the Netherlands will hope their attacking talents like Cody Gakpo and Donyell Malen can break through the German backline.

As the Nations League A continues, Belgium and France remain dominant forces, while the Netherlands faces a pivotal moment without their leader. The next round will reveal which of these nations has the resilience and tactical acumen to advance further in this prestigious competition.