On Thursday, November 12, the fifth round of the 2026/27 UEFA Nations League season kicked off. The main events of the evening unfolded in the elite Division A, where the tournament's first relegated team was determined, and favorites secured crucial wins ahead of the decisive sixth round. The evening was marked by several storylines: from Turkey bidding farewell to the elite ranks to Harry Kane’s milestone match, as he made his 126th appearance for England and scored the winning goal.
Turkey says goodbye to the elite division
In Group 1, the Turkish national team, in its debut match under new head coach Sergen Yalçın, lost 1-2 at home to Belgium. The “Janissaries” opened the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to a precise free-kick by Arda Güler, but before the break, Kevin De Bruyne and Charles De Ketelaere secured a comeback victory for the visitors. For the Turkish team, this defeat was their fifth in a row, sealing their relegation from the top division, making them the first team to drop out this season.
Sensational result: Italy stronger than France
In a parallel match in the same group, the Italian national team secured an unexpected victory over France in a tense encounter. By the end of the match, the Italians had scored three goals: Paolo Esposito struck in the 26th and 75th minutes (the latter via penalty), while Frattesi added a goal in the 63rd minute. The only goal for “Les Bleus” was scored by Olise in the 10th minute. The final score was 3-1 in favor of Italy.
Kane’s milestone match decides the tie with Croatia
In Group 3, the fight for the top spot intensified significantly. England defeated Croatia 2-1 on home soil. After Morgan Rogers scored in the first half, the visitors equalized through Petar Sučić after the interval. However, the final say belonged to the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner, Harry Kane: in his record-breaking 126th match for the national team, the striker coolly converted a penalty in the 64th minute to secure three points for his side.
Spain comfortably handles Czech Republic
Reigning world champions Spain secured a confident 2-0 away win against the Czech Republic. Late in the first half, Alex Baena opened the scoring from the penalty spot. In the 72nd minute, the hosts were reduced to ten men following the sending off of captain Ladislav Krejčí, and in stoppage time, Marc Pubill sealed the victory for the visitors. No brace was needed—two accurate strikes were enough for a comprehensive win.
Before the final round: Spain and England set for a playoff decider
Entering the final round, Spain leads Group 3 with a perfect 15 points, three ahead of England. In their head-to-head encounter in three days, these two teams will contest the playoff spot reserved for the group winner. The Czech Republic (0 points) and Croatia (3 points) will decide which of them avoids the bottom spot in the final round. Thus, the fifth round not only confirmed the first relegation but also pushed the intrigue in Group 3 to its peak ahead of the final showdown.
