Harry Kane Chases History as European Giants Collide in UEFA Nations League

LONDON, England, November 12, 2026: Harry Kane stands one appearance from making England history, France can secure top spot in their UEFA Nations League group, and Spain is defending a perfect record as Europe’s international competition enters its decisive November stretch. Nine fixtures across November 12 and 13 include England against Croatia at Wembley, Italy against France at San Siro, Czechia against Spain, and Türkiye against Belgium, with quarterfinal qualification, promotion and relegation all at stake.

The competition is approaching its final two league-phase matchdays, leaving little room for recovery. England needs only a draw against Croatia to reach the quarterfinals, while France can win Group A1 by beating Italy despite losing injured captain Kylian Mbappé. Further down the divisions, Albania is pushing for promotion, Cyprus is defending second place, and Kazakhstan risks losing its playoff hopes. Unlike international friendlies, these matches carry consequences that extend into the 2027 knockout stage.

UEFA Nations League November 12-13: Nine Matches, Kickoff Times and Venues

Eight of the selected fixtures take place on Thursday evening in Europe, extending into early Friday morning in Pakistan. Moldova’s meeting with Kazakhstan follows later on Friday.

TSE VISUAL BRIEFING

Story at a glance

01

UEFA Nations League November 12-13: Nine Matches, Kickoff Times and Venues

Eight of the selected fixtures take place on Thursday evening in Europe, extending into early Friday morning in Pakistan. Moldova’s meeting with Kazakhstan follows later on Friday.

02

England vs Croatia: Harry Kane’s Record Night Could Seal Qualification

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Wembley Stadium | Group A3

03

Italy vs France: Zidane Loses Mbappé Before Group A1 Showdown

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | San Siro, Milan | Group A1

04

Czechia vs Spain: Can Anyone Stop La Roja’s Perfect Run?

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Generali Arena, Prague | Group A3

05

Türkiye vs Belgium: Last Chance for the Hosts, De Bruyne Returns

Thursday, November 12 | 10:00 PM PKT | Gürsel Aksel Stadium, İzmir | Group A1

These nine matches form part of a larger Matchday 5 program continuing through Saturday, November 14. The final league-phase fixtures follow from November 15 to 17.

The UEFA Nations League knockout and playoff draw is scheduled for November 20. League A’s quarterfinals take place in March 2027, with the four-team finals scheduled for June.

England vs Croatia: Harry Kane’s Record Night Could Seal Qualification

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Wembley Stadium | Group A3

England’s meeting with Croatia has two stories capable of defining the night.

The first belongs to Harry Kane. If the Bayern Munich striker appears at Wembley, he will earn his 126th England cap and move beyond goalkeeper Peter Shilton as the most-capped player in the history of the men’s national team.

Kane enters the game level with Shilton on 125 appearances, already England’s record goalscorer with 91 goals. He has also scored six times in four Nations League matches this season, making him the competition’s leading scorer entering Matchday 5.

The second story is competitive.

England has nine points from four games and sits second in Group A3, three behind Spain. Croatia has three points, while Czechia remains without a point.

Thomas Tuchel’s team will qualify for the quarterfinals if it avoids defeat against Croatia. A victory would also maintain pressure on Spain before the two group leaders meet in Madrid on November 15.

The recent results favor England considerably.

After losing 3-2 to Spain on opening night, the Three Lions defeated Czechia 2-0, overwhelmed Croatia 7-0 away from home, and beat Czechia again by 3-0.

That 7-0 victory in Croatia remains an extraordinary psychological reference point. Kane scored twice as England produced one of its most comprehensive performances against a major European opponent.

However, Tuchel must avoid assuming that the return fixture will follow a similar pattern.

Two Bellinghams, New Defenders and Croatia’s Response

England’s squad includes Jude Bellingham and younger brother Jobe, who has received his first senior call-up. Fulham midfielder Josh King has also been selected, offering Tuchel another opportunity to assess younger players.

The squad has undergone changes in defense. Marc Guéhi withdrew through injury, with Dan Burn called up as his replacement. Bournemouth defender James Hill was subsequently added.

Bukayo Saka is absent through injury, while Declan Rice has returned to the squad after missing the previous international window.

TSE’s earlier England squad analysis examined how the Bellingham brothers and Tuchel’s new selections could influence the November matches.

Croatia faces an even greater challenge.

Slaven Bilić’s team has lost three consecutive Nations League games following its opening victory against Czechia. The defeats include two against Spain and the seven-goal collapse against England.

Luka Modrić remains an influential figure, while Joško Gvardiol and Luka Vušković provide the foundations for Croatia’s defensive recovery.

Croatia must beat England to retain any chance of reaching the quarterfinals. A draw or defeat eliminates that possibility.

The visitors’ priority should be preventing England from repeatedly attacking spaces between midfield and defense. Their previous meeting showed what happens when Kane, Bellingham and England’s wide players are allowed to combine without sufficient pressure.

For England, the ideal outcome combines a record-breaking appearance for Kane, qualification for the quarterfinals and a performance that preserves confidence ahead of the visit to Spain.

Italy vs France: Zidane Loses Mbappé Before Group A1 Showdown

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | San Siro, Milan | Group A1

Italy against France is arguably the most consequential fixture of the nine.

France leads Group A1 with ten points, followed by Italy on seven and Belgium on six. Türkiye is bottom without a point.

A French victory in Milan would secure first place and confirm quarterfinal qualification. A draw would also guarantee France a quarterfinal berth, though not necessarily the group title.

Italy can also secure qualification on Thursday, but only if it beats France and Belgium loses to Türkiye.

The two teams drew 1-1 in Saint-Denis in October, when Alessandro Bastoni canceled out Michael Olise’s opener.

Since then, France has produced one of the competition’s most impressive comebacks, beating Belgium 4-1 after falling behind in the 76th minute.

Olise scored twice in that match and now leads France with four Nations League goals. His influence has become increasingly important under Zinédine Zidane.

France Must Reorganize Without Kylian Mbappé

France’s preparations changed significantly when Zidane confirmed that Kylian Mbappé would not play against Italy because of injury.

Rather than risk the captain, France must rely on its considerable attacking depth.

Olise, Désiré Doué and Rayan Cherki offer creativity and direct running, while Bradley Barcola provides another dangerous option.

Zidane has also recalled Aurélien Tchouaméni and Ibrahima Konaté, while Ousmane Dembélé remains unavailable through injury.

Italy has its own defensive setback. Gianluca Mancini withdrew from the squad because of injury, and 18-year-old Udinese defender Matteo Palma received his first senior call-up after FIFA approved his change of sporting nationality.

Roberto Mancini, beginning his second spell as Italy coach, has overseen a recovery following an opening defeat to Belgium.

The Azzurri subsequently defeated Türkiye twice and drew with France, establishing a realistic opportunity to reach the quarterfinals.

Pio Esposito has become an important attacking option, scoring against Türkiye and accumulating seven international goals in his first 13 appearances.

Italy’s challenge is to contain France’s movement between the lines without surrendering too much attacking ambition.

France, meanwhile, must demonstrate that its attacking structure remains effective without Mbappé’s pace and finishing.

For wider context, TSE’s October Nations League report examined France’s extraordinary comeback against Belgium and the changing competitive picture.

Czechia vs Spain: Can Anyone Stop La Roja’s Perfect Run?

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Generali Arena, Prague | Group A3

Spain has won all four of its Nations League matches, collecting 12 points and already securing a quarterfinal place.

Luis de la Fuente’s team has defeated England, Croatia twice and Czechia, maintaining its extraordinary consistency following the World Cup.

Spain enters the match unbeaten in its previous 43 competitive games, excluding penalty shootouts.

That run comprises 36 victories and seven draws.

Lamine Yamal leads Spain’s Nations League scoring with four goals, while Mikel Merino has provided important contributions from midfield.

Merino scored twice during Spain’s dramatic 2-1 comeback victory against Croatia in October, demonstrating that the team is capable of recovering even when opponents disrupt its passing rhythm.

Czechia presents a different challenge from England and Croatia.

The home side has lost all four group games under Santi Denia and cannot qualify for the quarterfinals.

Its immediate objective is to avoid finishing fourth and strengthen its position before the final match against Croatia.

Spain can secure first place on Thursday if it defeats Czechia and England fails to beat Croatia. A Spanish draw combined with an England defeat would also settle the group in Spain’s favor.

De la Fuente’s November selections include new faces as he balances continuity with opportunities for emerging players. TSE’s report on Spain’s latest squad explains the selection changes ahead of the final two group fixtures.

Spain will seek to control the midfield through quick passing and positional rotations, while Czechia must reduce the space available to Yamal and prevent runners from arriving unmarked around the penalty area.

A Czech victory would be a major upset. A Spanish win would maintain its perfect record and potentially leave England fighting only for second place.

Türkiye vs Belgium: Last Chance for the Hosts, De Bruyne Returns

Thursday, November 12 | 10:00 PM PKT | Gürsel Aksel Stadium, İzmir | Group A1

Türkiye enters its penultimate group game facing the possibility of finishing last in League A Group 1.

The hosts have lost all four matches, conceding ten goals while scoring only two.

Their results include a 1-0 defeat against France, a 4-1 loss to Italy, a 3-0 defeat in Belgium and another loss to Italy by 3-1.

New head coach Sergen Yalçın is searching for his first Nations League points and a more competitive defensive structure.

Arda Güler remains Türkiye’s principal creative influence. The Real Madrid midfielder provides passing quality, movement between defensive lines and the ability to produce scoring opportunities from difficult positions.

Belgium has six points and remains involved in the quarterfinal race, although defeat would create a serious danger of elimination depending on Italy’s result against France.

Kevin De Bruyne is available again after serving a suspension that kept him out of Belgium’s 4-1 defeat against France.

His two goals helped Belgium defeat Türkiye 3-0 in October, making his return particularly important for Mark van Bommel’s team.

However, midfielder Roméo Lavia is suspended for this fixture.

Belgium’s squad also includes attacking talent capable of exploiting gaps in Türkiye’s midfield and defense. TSE’s Belgium squad update provides additional background on the selections for the November window.

Türkiye must win to avoid being confirmed in fourth place. Belgium will be safe from direct relegation if it avoids defeat.

The game therefore carries different pressures: Türkiye needs to keep its survival hopes alive, while Belgium cannot afford another damaging result in the quarterfinal race.

Albania vs Finland: Promotion Race Reaches a Turning Point

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Air Albania Stadium, Tirana | Group C1

Albania leads Group C1 with nine points, two clear of Belarus and Finland, who have seven apiece.

The hosts can secure promotion to League B on Thursday if they beat Finland and Belarus fails to defeat San Marino.

A win would guarantee Albania at least a top-two finish even if Belarus also wins.

Finland has already demonstrated its ability to trouble Albania, winning their October meeting 2-1.

The visitors have also recorded the highest average possession share in the Nations League at 63.3 percent.

Leo Walta has scored four goals and is League C’s leading scorer entering Matchday 5.

However, possession has not always translated into results. Finland lost 1-0 to Belarus in October, leaving the promotion race finely balanced.

Albania’s challenge is to deny Finland easy access through midfield while exploiting the spaces created when the visitors commit players forward.

Finland must win to improve its chances of securing a top-two finish. A Finnish defeat combined with a Belarus victory would eliminate Finland from the race for automatic promotion.

The outcome will also influence the importance of Sunday’s final matches, when Albania visits Belarus and Finland hosts San Marino.

Armenia vs Cyprus: A Direct Fight for the League C Playoff Places

Thursday, November 12 | 10:00 PM PKT | Republican Stadium, Yerevan | Group C2

Cyprus enters the match second in Group C2 with seven points, behind Montenegro on ten.

Armenia has four points and must win to preserve any chance of automatic promotion.

The previous meeting ended in a 2-0 Cyprus victory, making Thursday’s rematch particularly important for Armenia’s attempt to reverse the head-to-head balance.

Cyprus can guarantee a top-two finish by avoiding defeat.

The visitors could also secure second place and a League B/C playoff berth if they draw and Montenegro defeats Latvia.

Armenia has struggled to maintain consistent results after opening its Nations League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Latvia.

A subsequent defeat against Montenegro, loss to Cyprus and goalless draw with Montenegro have limited its progress.

Cyprus, meanwhile, recovered from an opening defeat against Montenegro to take seven points from its next three games.

The home side needs to attack with greater urgency, but conceding first could leave Armenia vulnerable to a Cyprus team that has already shown it can defend a lead in this matchup.

Montenegro vs Latvia: Promotion Within Reach for the Hosts

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | Podgorica City Stadium | Group C2

Montenegro is top of Group C2 with ten points from four matches and is already assured of finishing in the top two.

The hosts can secure automatic promotion if they beat Latvia and Cyprus fails to defeat Armenia.

Another route would open if Montenegro draws and Cyprus loses.

Latvia has collected just one point and is no longer in contention for promotion or a top-two finish.

Montenegro’s ability to defend effectively has been important throughout the group stage, while victories against Armenia and Cyprus established its early advantage.

The greatest danger for the hosts is complacency.

Latvia has little to lose, and an early goal for the visitors could complicate a game Montenegro is expected to control.

The hosts must also monitor events in Yerevan, because the Armenia-Cyprus result could determine whether promotion is secured before the final match against Cyprus.

San Marino vs Belarus: The Underdogs Could Reshape the Promotion Race

Friday, November 13 | 12:45 AM PKT | San Marino Stadium | Group C1

Belarus enters the match with seven points, level with Finland and two behind Albania.

Its promotion prospects depend on winning games while hoping Albania drops points.

The visitors will be favorites against San Marino, which has lost all four group fixtures.

San Marino has conceded heavily, including a 7-0 defeat against Finland, and is already confirmed to finish fourth.

For Belarus, the greatest challenge may be converting territorial dominance into goals without exposing itself to counterattacks.

A Belarus victory combined with a Finland defeat against Albania would guarantee Belarus a top-two finish.

However, the group title could remain undecided until Belarus hosts Albania on November 15.

The match is a reminder that fixtures involving lower-ranked nations can have major consequences elsewhere in a group.

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Even if San Marino cannot improve its final position, a surprise result could materially affect the battle for promotion.

Moldova vs Kazakhstan: The Visitors Cannot Afford Another Slip

Friday, November 13 | 10:00 PM PKT | Stadionul Zimbru, Chișinău | Group C3

Slovakia leads Group C3 with ten points and is close to securing promotion to League B.

Faroe Islands and Moldova are level on four points, while Kazakhstan is last with two.

Moldova cannot finish first, but second place remains available and would provide a route into the League B/C promotion playoffs.

Kazakhstan faces the sharper immediate consequence: failure to beat Moldova will eliminate it from contention for those playoffs.

The visitors have yet to win a match in this Nations League campaign.

Both teams have struggled to match Slovakia, whose unbeaten four-game run has created a commanding advantage at the top.

Moldova will look to exploit home advantage and secure three points before traveling to face the Faroe Islands in its final match.

Kazakhstan must create more reliable attacking opportunities while limiting turnovers that could give the hosts control.

The outcome could substantially clarify the race for second place, especially with Slovakia facing the Faroe Islands on the same evening.

What Results Would Decide Qualification, Promotion and Relegation?

The following table isolates the most important confirmed scenarios entering Matchday 5.

These scenarios follow UEFA’s published qualification and relegation calculations. Other combinations remain possible, particularly when teams enter the final matchday level on points.

The complete official calculations are available in UEFA’s qualification, promotion and relegation guide.

Why Goal Difference and Head-to-Head Results Could Become Crucial

With two matchdays remaining, the Nations League is entering the stage when individual goals can carry significance beyond the immediate result.

UEFA prioritizes results between teams level on points before considering overall group goal difference.

That makes previous meetings particularly relevant.

England’s 7-0 victory over Croatia, for example, creates a major advantage in their head-to-head comparison. Croatia cannot simply beat England by a narrow margin and expect to reverse the broader qualification picture.

Similarly, Finland’s earlier victory against Albania could matter if the two sides finish level in Group C1, depending on their second meeting and the final standings.

The official tiebreaking system is explained in UEFA’s 2026/27 competition guide.

For teams chasing qualification, scoring an additional goal may therefore prove as important as defending a narrow lead.

Which Matches Should Fans Watch?

England against Croatia provides the most compelling individual storyline because of Kane’s appearance record and England’s opportunity to qualify.

Italy against France carries the greatest immediate significance at the top of Group A1, particularly after Mbappé’s injury changed France’s attacking options.

Czechia against Spain offers the opportunity to watch whether the reigning world champions can extend their perfect Nations League record.

For those interested in promotion and survival, Albania-Finland and Armenia-Cyprus may prove just as consequential as the higher-profile games.

Türkiye-Belgium is another essential fixture because a failure by the hosts to win would settle their fourth-place finish.

The wider competition has already produced significant momentum shifts. TSE’s October Nations League coverage examined how Spain’s perfect run and England’s recovery reshaped the quarterfinal race.

Thursday and Friday will determine whether those trends continue or whether the final matchday arrives with unexpected opportunities still available.

What Happens After Matchday 5?

The final league-phase matches are scheduled between November 15 and 17.

England travels to Spain on November 15, while Croatia hosts Czechia.

France welcomes Türkiye, and Belgium hosts Italy, providing a potentially decisive conclusion to Group A1.

League C also has important final fixtures, including Belarus against Albania, Finland against San Marino, Cyprus against Montenegro, and Latvia against Armenia.

On November 16, Moldova visits the Faroe Islands while Kazakhstan hosts Slovakia.

Group winners in League C earn automatic promotion to League B. Second-placed teams enter promotion/relegation playoffs against League B’s fourth-placed teams.

League A’s top two teams from each group advance to the March quarterfinals, with the winners reaching the June finals.

UEFA’s official fixture schedule provides the complete remaining match program.

For England, this could become Kane’s historic night and the moment quarterfinal qualification is secured. For France, it is an opportunity to win the group despite a major attacking absence. For Spain, it is another test of an extraordinary unbeaten record.

And for nations such as Albania, Armenia, Cyprus and Kazakhstan, the coming matches could determine whether their next campaign begins with promotion, a playoff opportunity or another season in the same division.

The Nations League has reached the stage when a goal, a missed chance or a late defensive mistake can alter an entire nation’s competitive future.