UEFA Nations League: Inaugural Edition Opens; Goose Eggs Between Germany And Les Bleus; Wales Too Much For Ireland

The inaugural edition of the UEFA Nations League commenced on Thursday with nine games.

LEAGUE A:

Group One:

At Munich, Germany:

Germany and visiting France battled to a 0-0 stalemate.

Group One Standings:

1. France (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
2. Germany (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Netherlands (GP: 0; GD: 0; PTS: 0)

NOTE: France has the tiebreaker based on the superior Fair Play points total (0, compared to the Germans' -1).



LEAGUE B:

Group One:

At Uherske Hradiste, Czech Republic:

Oleksandr Zinchenko scored the winning goal in the third minute of second-half stoppage time to carry Ukraine to a 3-2 road win over the Czech Republic.

Group Two Standings:

1. Ukraine (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Slovakia (GP: 0; GD: 0; PTS: 0)
3. Czech Republic (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)



Group Four:

At Cardiff, Wales:

Tom Lawrence (6'), Gareth Bale (18'), Aaron Ramsey (37'), and Connor Roberts (55') each scored once as Wales dominated visiting Ireland 4-1.

Group Four Standings:

1. Wales (GP: 1; GD: +3; PTS: 3)
2. Denmark (GP: 0; GD: 0; PTS; 0)
3. Republic of Ireland (GP: 1; GD: -3; PTS: 0)



LEAGUE C:

Group Three:

At Ljubljana, Slovenia:

Bozhidar Kraev scored twice (3', 59') as Bulgaria knocked off Slovenia 2-1 on the road.

At Oslo, Norway:

Stefan Johansen scored twice (21', 42') as Norway blanked visiting Cyprus 2-0.

Group Three Standings:

1. Norway (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Bulgaria (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Slovenia (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Cyprus (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)



LEAGUE D:

Group One:

At Astana, Kazakhstan:

Giorgi Chakvetadze (69') and Serhiy Malyi (OG-74') each scored once as Kazakhstan blanked Georgia 2-0 on the road.

At Riga, Latvia:

Andorra held hosts Latvia to a 0-0 deadlock.

Group One Standings:

1. Kazakhstan (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Latvia (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
3. Andorra (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Georgia (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)

NOTE: Latvia has the superior Fair Play score vis-a-viv Andorra (-2 to -5).

Group Four:

At Yerevan, Armenia:

Tigran Barseghyan scored the winning goal in the 76th minute as Armenia defeated visiting Liechtenstein 1-0.

At Gibraltar:

Ivan Trickovski (19') and Egzijan Alioski (35') each scored once as Macedonia blanked Gibraltar 2-0 on the road.

Group Four Standings:

1. Macedonia (GP: 1; GD: +2; PTS: 3)
2. Armenia (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Liechtenstein (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Gibraltar (GP: 1; GD: -2; PTS: 0)