France teams up with Israel amid high security and advancement in League of Nations

France and Italy reached the quarter-finals of the revamped Nations League on Thursday, with England exacting revenge on Greece ahead of the imminent appointment of Thomas Tuchel as coach.

France drew 0-0 with Israel in a match that required a high-security operation in Paris, a week after street violence erupted in Amsterdam during the visit of Israeli club Maccabi to Tel Aviv for a Europa League match.

For the match, about 150 Israeli fans were present among a crowd of less than 20,000 at the Stade de France, which seats 80,000. At some point in the first half, there was a brief altercation between some fans.

The draw was enough for France to confirm a top-two place in their group along with Italy, who beat visiting Belgium 1-0 thanks to Sandro Tonali’s 11th-minute goal.

The French and Italians will compete in the quarter-finals in March. The winners will advance to the Final Four for the title in June.

Germany and Spain were the first two countries to reach the quarter-finals in October.

England won 3-0 in Athens thanks to goals from Ollie Watkins and Curtis Jones. The other goal was an own goal. England avenged last month’s humiliating defeat at Wembley Stadium by losing to Greece for the first time.

English captain Harry Kane did not start. Interim coach Lee Carsley preferred Watkins in attack. Kane came on as a substitute in the second half.

England have one more game left under Carsley before Germany’s Tuchel starts his career in January.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland made sure to score as Norway beat Slovenia 4-1.

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This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative artificial intelligence tool.