Nations League Drama: Kane Nears Record, Mbappe Injured, Klopp's Germany Struggles

Club football is taking a pause for the latest round of Uefa Nations League fixtures. Matchdays five and six of the group stage are underway this week and next, bringing teams closer to the finals. The top two teams in Groups A1, A2, A3, and A4 will advance to a two-legged quarter-final in March. The semi-finals and final are scheduled for June, with Spain reportedly the leading candidate to host the matches at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu and Valladolid's Estadio Jose Zorrilla. Currently, reigning champions Portugal and World Cup winners Spain are the only nations to have secured their spots, having won all four of their opening games. We highlight the key talking points from recent matches involving countries still in contention to become the tournament's fourth champion, following Portugal (twice), France, and Spain.

Kane Set to Break England Record

Harry Kane is on the verge of another milestone in his remarkable year. The striker is expected to become England's most-capped player when the Three Lions face Croatia at Wembley Stadium on Thursday. Already England's all-time top scorer with 91 goals, Kane will surpass Peter Shilton's record of 125 appearances if he starts against Croatia, marking his 126th cap. The Bayern Munich striker returns to London just two weeks after being honored as the first English Ballon d'Or winner in 25 years at the London Palladium, a testament to his prolific form for both club and country. Thomas Tuchel's side has nearly secured their Nations League finals spot, sitting second in Group A3 behind Spain and six points ahead of Croatia. Their dominant 7-0 victory in Rijeka last month significantly boosted their goal difference. Tuchel commented on Wednesday, "He has his collection of prizes, he will score more goals, he will get more games and tomorrow he will start as captain of course. It's a big occasion to present the Ballon d'Or to our fans and bring it to the country and have it on the same day when he gets his all-time record … It's a beautiful, beautiful occasion."

Mbappe Adds to France Injury Woes

Zinedine Zidane's plans for France's upcoming matches against Italy and Turkey have been disrupted by a string of injuries to key players. William Saliba, Jules Kounde, Maxence Lacroix, Manu Kone, and Ousmane Dembele are all sidelined for the games in Milan and Bordeaux. They have been joined by Aurelien Tchouameni and Marcus Thuram, with Zidane calling up uncapped Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi to replace Thuram. While captain Kylian Mbappe has returned to the squad after recovering from a knee injury sustained in Zidane's first match, he missed the subsequent three games. However, Mbappe did not participate in Wednesday's training due to a hamstring problem and is unlikely to play against Italy, though L'Equipe reports he is expected to be fit for the Turkey match. Zidane remains unbeaten since replacing Didier Deschamps, with his team securing 10 points out of a possible 12, including a decisive 4-1 victory over Belgium where France scored four goals in the final 13 minutes.

Mancini's Young Italy Faces Tough Challenge

Italy currently trails France by three points in Group A3. The team has shown resilience after a difficult start to the tournament, which included a 2-0 home defeat to Belgium and a negative reception from fans in Rome. Returning manager Roberto Mancini has seen his team respond positively with away and home wins against Turkey, interspersed with a draw against France in Paris. This puts Italy in second place, one point ahead of Belgium, setting up a potential qualification decider against Mark van Bommel's side in Brussels on Sunday. Mancini's previous successful tenure, including the Euro 2020 victory, benefited from a squad rich in experienced players like Giorgio Chiellini, Leo Bonucci, Marco Verratti, and Jorginho. The current squad, however, has an average age of under 25, featuring 17-year-old Riccardo Cassano, who has yet to make a senior club appearance for Como. "Back in 2018, we had more experienced players," Mancini stated. "Today, we don't have many."

Klopp's Stalled Start with Germany

Jurgen Klopp's tenure with the German national team has not gone as planned, with Die Mannschaft at risk of missing the quarter-finals. With only one win in four games, Germany is third in Group A2, trailing Greece and the Netherlands by three points ahead of their upcoming match in Serbia. They are set to face the Dutch at home on Monday. Klopp has called up Werder Bremen forward Niclas Fullkrug, who rejoined his former club on loan from West Ham United. The 33-year-old striker is currently the Bundesliga's top scorer with nine goals in eight matches, earning his first Germany call-up in over a year. "I’m delighted to be back. It’s recognition of the work you put in and how you perform for your club. It’s great to be part of the national team again and to have the chance to train under Jurgen Klopp," Fullkrug expressed. The former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool coach has also included 17-year-old Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Wael Mohya in his squad. "We have a diverse mix of very young players and those with plenty of experience in the squad," Klopp remarked.