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Preview: Arsenal stars set to headline October Nations League fixtures

The second international break of the 2024/25 season is upon us, and a few Arsenal players will be in action in the UEFA Nations League across the globe in their quest to impress and eventually qualify for the 2026 World Cup. We take a look at the adversity they will be up against. 

Fans eager to watch the action unfold can buy World Cup 2026 tickets from Seatsnet.com as the best in the world battle for supremacy.

Preview: England vs Greece – stats, team news, line-ups

England welcome Greece to Wembley as they lock horns for a place atop the Nations League group standings. Both sides claimed wins in their first two games in September and will be teeming with confidence ahead of the tie.

England, under new interim manager Lee Carsley, made light work of the Republic of Ireland and Finland. The Three Lions beat both teams 2-0 to secure six points. 

However, Greece also dispatched the same opponents with better goal margins, soaring to the summit ahead of England.

Ivan Jovanovic’s Greece is a tactically-versed, formidable unit that can cause any side problems. But England line up with some of the best footballers on the planet, like Arsenal pair Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, and will back themselves to come out on top on home soil.

Head to Head 

Greece and England have faced as many as nine times, but the Three Lions have the overwhelming upper hand. The 1966 World Cup champions won seven meetings, while Greece only managed two draws.

England also kept seven clean sheets in those runs of fixtures against the 2004 European Championship winners.

Interestingly, this is the first time both teams will clash in 18 years since Steve McLaren’s England mullered Greece 4-0 in a friendly game back in 2006.

Peter Crouch netted a brace, and Chelsea legends John Terry and Frank Lampard scored in a first-half rout at Old Trafford.

The Theatre of Dreams was also the venue for their iconic 2001 meeting, where David Beckham scored the famous free-kick that took them to the World Cup a year later.

Team News 

England are without Ezri Konsa, Morgan Gibbs-White, and Kobbie for this round of fixtures, as they have all pulled out with various knocks. 

England record scorer Harry Kane is also nursing an ankle issue that has restricted him to individual training, and Carsley confirmed he cannot start against Greece.

Other than that, the former Everton midfielder has a plethora of world-class talents to choose from, including Kyle Walker, Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham.

Greece striker Fotis Ioannidis picked up a knock during domestic duties for Panathinaikos in their heated clash with Olympiacos. In his stead, Benfica man Vangelis Pavlidis is expected to lead the line.

England Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-2-3-1): Jordan Pickford; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Marc Guehi, John Stones, Levi Colwill; Declan Rice, Jude Bellingham; Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Bukayo Saka; Ollie Watkins. 

Greece Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-2-3-1): Odysseas Vlachodimos; Lazaros Rota, Dinos Mavropanos, Dinos Koulierakis, Kostas Tsimikas; Manolis Siopis, Dimitris Kourbelis; Giorgos Masouras, Tasos Bakasetas, Christos Tzolis; Vangelis Pavlidis.

Preview: Israel vs France – stats, team news, line-ups

Israel lock horns with France in the UEFA Nations League later today, and three points are on the agenda. 

Group whipping boys Israel are winless after suffering defeat against Belgium and Italy. They were outgunned across both fixtures and will be eager to register their first points of the campaign.

However, wounded lions France are still reeling from the shocking opening-day loss to Italy. A 2-0 win over wayward Belgium did not quell the recent tension around Didier Deschamps’ side.

The Brouhaha around captain Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann’s shock retirement has threatened to derail France, and they need to show a united front against a tricky Israel side that knows how to put up a fight.

Head to Head 

Winless Israel will likely be demoted to League B, especially if they lose to Les Bleus. They have only two wins in the previous nine games, defeating minnows Andorra and Belarus.

France and Israel have traded blows nine times over the years, and the two-time World Cup winners have been dominant. 

The 2022 World Cup finalists have won six of their games with Israel. The Skyblue and Whites tasted victory only once, although they drew twice in their last two meetings during the 2006 World Cup qualifying. 

Team News

Griezmann’s retirement has thrown Deschamps a curveball as the Atletico Madrid star was the nexus between the midfield and attack, but he has an array of top-class talents to choose from.

Captain Mbappe did not join the October squad as he bids to return to full fitness, although fans questioned his commitment after he started Real Madrid’s last game.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich defender Dayot Upamecano withdrew through injury, meaning the manager will likely roll with Ibrahima Konate and Arsenal man William Saliba in central defence. 

Israel have also experienced some setbacks since naming their squad, with captain Eli Dasa and 20-year-old forward Dor Turgeman both forced to withdraw due to injuries.

Additionally, there has been uncertainty regarding the status of Manor Solomon. Despite being called up, he has missed the last four matches due to a hamstring injury and reportedly remained in England for rehabilitation. 

His absence opens the door for highly-rated Red Bull Salzburg starlet Oscar Gloukh, who could start in his place.

Israel Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-2-3-1): Yoav Gerafi; Ilay Feingold, Idas Nachimas, Raz Shlomo, Doron Leidner; Mohammad Abu Fani, Gavriel Kanichowsky; Liel Abada, Dor Peretz, Oscar Gloukh; Tai Baribo.

France Possible Starting Line-Up:

(4-3-3): Mike Maignan; Jules Kounde, William Saliba, Ibrahima Konate, Theo Hernandez, Warren Zaire-Emery, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga; Ousmane Dembele, Christopher Nkunku, Bradley Barcola.

Preview: Italy vs Belgium – stats, team news, line-ups

Italy face Belgium later today, with both sides anxious for victory as they bid to make a deep run in the Nations League.

The 2020 European Championship winners top the group following wins over France and Israel, finding their form after the abysmal defence of their title in Germany.

Belgium also delivered a tepid Euro 2024 campaign, and the fans have turned against their manager, who they believe must galvanise this promising squad into a potent unit.

Head coach Domenico Tedesco has failed to turn the tide, and the fans are even more miserable after their loss to France. They desperately need a result in Rome against Italy. 

Head to Head

Italy have beaten Belgium in their last three meetings, including a 2-1 victory to seal third place in the 2020/21 Nations League finals. They met twice at Euro 2020 and Euro 2016, and on both occasions, La Nazionale came out on top, continuing to show their supremacy. 

The last time Belgium beat Italy was in a 2015 friendly when goals from Jan Vertonghen, Michy Batshuayi, and De Bruyne cancelled an Antonio Candreva third-minute strike.

Team News

In-form Fiorentina striker Moise Kean pulled out from the squad with a back problem, and Udinese man Lorenzo Lucca took his place. Nicolo Barella is back after missing last month’s Nations League games because he went under the knife for sinus surgery.

Meanwhile, Tedesco is without his marquee players for the October games. Kevin De Bruyne asked to be left out of the team to recuperate. Romelu Lukaku is settling into Naples following his transfer from Chelsea, while Thibaut Courtois continues his mutiny against the coach. 

Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard is back in the squad after missing the September games and will be up against teammate Riccardo Calafiori. 

Italy Potential Starting Line-up:

(3-5-2): Gianluigi Donnarumma; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Bastoni, Riccardo Calafiori; Raoul Bellanova, Nicolo Barella, Samuele Ricci, Sandro Tonali, Federico Dimarco; Giacomo Raspadori, Mateo Retegui.

Belgium Potential Starting Line-up:

(4-2-3-1): Koen Casteels; Timothy Castagne, Wout Faes, Zino Debast, Arthur Theate; Amadou Onana, Youri Tielemans; Dodi Lukebakio, Leandro Trossard, Jeremy Doku; Lois Openda.

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