© Getty
Numerous FC Bayern players were on international duty on Thursday - here's an overview of the results.
England take a big step towards promotion
Harry Kane and Co. are back in pole position. England celebrated a 3-0 (1-0) win over Group B leaders Greece in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday evening and replaced them at the top of the table ahead of the final matchday. Bayern striker Kane came off the bench for the Three Lions in the 66th minute, Ollie Watkins (7') and debutant Curtis Jones (83') scored for the visitors, with the third coming via an unfortunate own goal from Greece goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos.
Harry Kane came off the bench in the 66th minute in Athens. | © Imago
"What a shift from all the boys! Massive win to have the group in our hands," posted Kane on Instagram. Having won the head-to-head against Greece, England can now seal their return to the A League on Sunday against Ireland (18:00 CET).
Peretz with a clean sheet against France
No goals in the internal Bayern clash: France drew 0-0 with Israel in Nations League Group A2 on Thursday. Dayot Upamecano and Michael Olise started for the French side, with Kingsley Coman coming off the bench for Bayern teammate Olise in the 70th minute. At the other end, FC Bayern keeper Daniel Peretz kept a clean sheet for the visitors. Due to the current security situation, the match at the Stade de France was played in front of fewer than 20,000 spectators.
Daniel Peretz kept a clean sheet for France against Israel. | © Imago
The point was enough to see the Équipe Tricolore through to the quarter-finals of the competition. To finish top of their group, the French will need to win by at least two goals in their final game at leaders Italy on Sunday (20:45 CEST). Israel, on the other hand, still have survival in the A League in their own hands: to do so, however, Peretz and Co. will have to overturn their 3-1 first leg defeat to Belgium when they play the Red Devils in three days' time (Sunday, 20:45 CET in Budapest).
Austria and Laimer one game away from promotion
Konrad Laimer pulled the strings in the Austrian midfield for a good hour in Almaty. | © Imago
Konrad Laimer and his teammates are in a great position: Head coach Ralf Rangnick's side won 2-0 (2-0) in Kazakhstan on Thursday, giving them a terrific chance of advancing to the elite tier of the UEFA Nations League. FCB midfielder Laimer played until the 64th minute for the Austrians in Almaty. Christoph Baumgartner (15') put the visitors ahead, Michael Gregoritsch (25') increased the lead to 2-0 with a direct free-kick, straight after Kazakhstan's Alexandr Marockin (23') had been shown a straight red card for a foul as the last man. Another win against Slovenia in Vienna on Sunday (18:00 CET) will secure top spot in Group 3 of the B League for Austria.
Another success for Minjae and South Korea
Minjae Kim remains right on course for the World Cup with his home country. On Thursday afternoon, South Korea won 3-1 (2-0) in Kuwait. With five games played, they now have 13 points and continue to lead their qualifying group for the 2026 tournament ahead of Jordan and Iraq, who are both on eight points. Minjae played the full 90 minutes in Kuwait City, with the goals coming from Se-hun Oh (10'), Heung-min Son (19'/pen.) and Jun-ho Bae (74'). Mohammad Daham (60') scored the equaliser for the home side on the hour mark.
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