Veteran footballers took center stage in the UEFA Nations League on Friday as Robert Lewandowski and Kevin de Bruyne delivered standout performances that propelled Poland and Belgium to decisive victories. Meanwhile, Italy secured a draw against France, denying Zinedine Zidane a winning debut as the French national team coach.
In a League A match played in Liège, Belgium, 35-year-old Kevin de Bruyne demonstrated his enduring influence on the pitch by scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Turkey. De Bruyne opened the scoring in the 10th minute after a quick exchange with teammate Dodi Lukébakio, finishing from the edge of the penalty area. He later curled a precise shot home around the 60th minute. Substitute Romelu Lukaku added a third goal, securing the victory. Lukébakio also came close to scoring with two shots that struck the posts.
At Stade de France in Paris, Zinedine Zidane’s home coaching debut for France drew a lively crowd, with the stadium erupting upon the announcement of his name. France took the lead in the 55th minute through Michael Olise, who fired a curling shot from 20 meters that hit the crossbar before going in. However, the French defense faltered later in the second half, allowing Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni a clear run to score with a low shot inside the right post, leveling the match at 1-1. This result leaves France atop Group 1 with seven points, followed by Belgium on six, Italy on four, and Turkey without points.
In League B, Robert Lewandowski celebrated a standout performance, scoring a hat trick in Poland’s dominant 6-0 victory against 10-man Romania. The 38-year-old Chicago Fire striker earned an early penalty after Romania defender Radu Dragusin was sent off for a foul inside the box at 24 minutes and successfully converted the spot kick. Lewandowski added a second goal early in the second half with an assist from Nicola Zalewski and completed his three-goal tally late in the game.
The day also marked the international farewell of veteran striker Edin Džeko, who ended his nearly two-decade career with Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 1-1 draw against Sweden. Džeko, 40, made his national team debut in June 2007 and holds Bosnia-Herzegovina’s records for both appearances (152) and goals (73). After Sweden’s Viktor Gyökeres opened the scoring, Džeko was honored as he was substituted off in the 63rd minute. Kerim Alajbegović scored the equalizer for Bosnia-Herzegovina in the 80th minute.
Additionally, in another League B encounter, Northern Ireland defeated Ukraine 3-0 in Slovakia, with Ciaron Brown scoring twice to lead his team to victory.