Belgium 4–3 Wales: De Bruyne Caps a Rollercoaster
In an electrifying clash in Brussels, Belgium edged Wales 4–3, thanks to a late heroics from Kevin De Bruyne. The attackers Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemans, and Jeremy Doku blitzed ahead to form a quick 3–0 lead inside just 27 minutes. However, a resilient Wales, spearheaded by Harry Wilson’s penalty before halftime, along with Sorba Thomas and Brennan Johnson after the break, fought back to level the contest. De Bruyne delivered the climactic volley in the 88th minute to seal the win, completing one of the most thrilling comebacks of the European Qualifiers
Italy 2–0 Moldova: Azzurri Finally Get Going
Italy secured their first points in Group I with a solid 2–0 victory at home against Moldova. Giacomo Raspadori opened the scoring just before halftime with a first-time finish off a Luca Ranieri cross. The win was doubled early in the second half by Andrea Cambiaso, following a precise Riccardo Orsolini setup.
Other Highlights from Matchdays 3 & 4
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Norway maintained their perfect start with Erling Haaland’s fourth goal in as many qualifiers, beating Estonia and Italy previously.
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Croatia extended their scoring spree with 12 goals in two days: following a 7–0 rout of Gibraltar, they thrashed Czechia 5–1, featuring a Luka Modrić strike.
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North Macedonia stunned Kazakhstan with Aleksandar Trajkovski’s decisive strike end a woodwork-heavy game.
Matchday Results Summary
| Group | Fixtures & Results |
|---|---|
| I | Estonia 0–1 Norway; Italy 2–0 Moldova |
| J | Belgium 4–3 Wales; Kazakhstan 0–1 North Macedonia |
| L | Faroe Islands 2–1 Gibraltar; Croatia 5–1 Czechia |
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Belgium avoided a potential draw after leading 3–0, reinforcing their readiness under pressure ahead of tougher matches.
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Italy’s bounce-back win marks a turning point after a shaky start, giving coach Mancini’s squad renewed confidence.
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Norway’s ongoing dominance keeps them on track to challenge Italy for top spot in Group I.
Tactical Takeaways
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Belgium’s early intensity exposed Wales’ defense, but their temporary lapse underlines areas needing focus in high-stakes games.
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Wales’ fighting spirit earned them points—a reminder they shouldn’t be taken lightly in qualifiers.
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Italy’s clinical execution on either side of halftime showcases their experience and efficient use of quality chances.
Coming Up Next
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Matchday 5 includes key fixtures such as Finland vs Poland, Netherlands vs Malta, Romania vs Cyprus, and Latvia vs Albania.
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Teams enter the next phase with renewed urgency—Belgium chasing consistency, Italy building momentum, and Wales looking to remain in contention for playoff spots.
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