Belgium to host Italy in UEFA Nations League clash

With 10 points, Italian team top of Group A2, 6 points ahead of Belgium

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Belgium on Thursday will face off against Italy in the UEFA Nations League, one of the week's most anticipated matchups.

The UEFA Nations League Group A2 clash is scheduled to kick off at 1945GMT at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. Romanian referee Radu Petrescu has been appointed to officiate this highly anticipated League A match.

Italy currently lead the standings with 10 points, having secured three wins and one draw. They sit ahead of second-place France, with Belgium and Israel following in third and fourth place, respectively.

"We're going there to win, we won't settle for a point. We need to have the right attitude and not take anything for granted," Luciano Spalletti, Italy’s coach, told a press conference.

With four points points under their belt, Belgium have one win, one draw, and two losses across their four matches so far.

- Controversial match to be played in Paris

In League A, France and Israel are also set to face off Thursday at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris at 1945GMT, in a match drawing controversy due to international politics.

The match will take place with fans in attendance but under tight security measures – including 4,000 police personnel – addressing concerns surrounding the event.

The Group A2 clash has the heightened security measures after Israeli fans caused problems at last Friday’s Maccabi Tel Aviv vs. Ajax UEFA Europa League game in the Netherlands, played against the backdrop of Israel's 13-month offensive in Gaza, which has killed over 43,000 Palestinians.

French authorities have banned spectators from bringing the Palestinian flag to the France-Israel football match.

Security personnel at Stade de France will subject fans to security searches and ID checks twice before allowing them to enter..

Stade de France, located in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris, is France’s largest stadium with a capacity of around 81,000 seats

The 2024-25 UEFA Nations League will conclude with the final next June.

- Thursday's fixtures

Kazakhstan - Austria (1500GMT)

Armenia - Faroe Islands (1700GMT)

North Macedonia - Latvia (1945GMT)

France - Israel (1945GMT)

Belgium - Italy (1945GMT)

Slovenia - Norway (1945GMT)

Ireland - Finland (1945GMT)