Nations League Matchday 3 Preview: France vs Italy, Croatia vs England and Three More Games to Watch

Two rounds are gone, and several groups are already starting to heat up.

France and Spain are still perfect. Portugal have also taken six points from six. Germany, meanwhile, are still looking for their first win, while Croatia need a quick response after conceding four against Spain.

The Nations League returns from 1 to 3 October, and 888STARZ picks out five Matchday 3 fixtures worth watching.

Germany vs Serbia: Klopp needs a win now

Germany’s start has been nowhere near what was expected.

A 1–1 draw with the Netherlands was followed by a shock 1–0 home defeat to Greece. Two games, one point and just one goal scored.

Serbia are still without a point too after back-to-back 2–1 defeats against Greece and the Netherlands.

That leaves Germany with very little room for another mistake.

A home game against a side that have lost both opening fixtures looks like the perfect opportunity for Jürgen Klopp to finally get his first Nations League win.

888STARZ offers 1.19 on Germany to win.

Denmark vs Portugal: first serious test for the perfect start

Portugal have started exactly as expected: two games, two wins.

They edged Wales 1–0 before surviving a tougher trip to Norway and winning 2–1. Six points are on the board, but the level of opposition now rises.

Denmark recovered well after losing 3–2 to Norway, beating Wales 2–0 at home. Mikkel Damsgaard was particularly impressive, playing a role in both goals.

Portugal are still favourites, but this is not a game where they can simply wait for one moment and expect it to be enough.

888STARZ offers 1.83 on Portugal to win.

France vs Italy: the game of Matchday 3?

If there is one fixture to circle on 2 October, it is this one.

France have not dropped a single point so far. They first edged Türkiye 1–0 away and then repeated the scoreline against Belgium.

Two games, two goals, six points. Not spectacular, but extremely efficient.

Italy’s start has been far more chaotic. A 2–0 home defeat to Belgium was a major setback, but three days later they responded with a 4–1 win in Türkiye.

So the big question is simple: which Italy turns up against France?

France have looked more stable so far, especially at home, and the market reflects that.

888STARZ offers 1.46 on France to win.

Croatia vs England: who needs this more?

Both teams have already taken a serious hit.

England opened with a 3–2 home defeat to Spain but responded quickly with a 2–0 win in Czechia.

Croatia went the other way: a 2–1 win over Czechia was followed by a heavy 4–1 defeat against Spain.

Now Croatia need a response at home.

England arrive in Rijeka in a much better mood. Harry Kane and Anthony Gordon have both been among the goals already, while the win in Czechia should have restored some confidence.

It is a difficult away trip, but England still look stronger on paper.

888STARZ offers 1.68 on England to win.

Spain vs Czechia: Yamal and company are not slowing down

Spain have made the best start in Group A3.

First came a 3–2 win at Wembley. Then a 4–1 victory over Croatia.

Seven goals in two games and six points from six.

Czechia are at the opposite end of the group: defeats to Croatia and England, four goals conceded and zero points.

On paper, almost everything points one way here. Especially if Spain play at the same tempo we saw in the first two rounds.

888STARZ offers just 1.06 on Spain to win — the clearest favourite among our Matchday 3 picks.

Key Matchday 3 fixtures

Matchday 3 feels like the first point where results begin to create real pressure.

Germany need their first win. Italy must prove that the 4–1 victory over Türkiye was more than just a one-off response. Croatia need to forget the four goals conceded against Spain.

France, Portugal and Spain, meanwhile, can reach the halfway point of the group stage without dropping a single point.

That gives us something worth watching almost every night from 1 to 3 October.