Summary

  • Arnautovic scores Austria winner with low finish

  • NI pointless after two matches

  • Both teams lost to Bosnia-Herzegovina in Group B3 last month

  1. 'You want to test yourselves'published at 19:05 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Austria v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    The Northern Ireland team are undergoing something of a revolution under manager Michael O'Neill.

    They are attempting to play more attacking football, which involves high intensity and high pressing.

    Midfielder Oliver Norwood says it began during last year's World Cup play-off defeat by Switzerland when the team had to seize the initiative during the second leg in Basel.

    "It's the way football is going now, the modern game has moved on so much," he said.

    "For me personally, it's similar to how we play at Sheffield United, on the front foot, starting games fast, trying to take the initiative, trying to force the other team on the back foot.

    "We're not saying we're going to go and do that against Germany and teams like that, the top teams, but in the Nations League, playing against teams of similar level, you want to test yourselves and we want to replicate those performances."

    .Image source, Getty Images
  2. Tough test for Northern Irelandpublished at 19:03 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Austria v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    But tonight it's a return to the Nations League for Northern Ireland, in the first of two away matches over three days.

    First up is a trip to Vienna, where Michael O'Neill's side will hope to bounce back from a tight 2-1 defeat to Bosnia.

    Austria themselves are also coming off the back of a defeat to Bosnia and many see this is a key game which could help decide who finishes runners-up in the group.

  3. Mbappe heat melts the icepublished at 18:59 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    France 2-2 Iceland

    But the real drama unfolded in France...

    Substitute Kylian Mbappe was the catalyst for a dramatic France comeback as Iceland were denied a first victory over the reigning world champions.

    Trailing 2-0 when the Paris St-Germain forward came on, France pulled one back when his shot was saved but flew in off Iceland defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson.

    In the 90th minute, 19-year-old Mbappe fired in a penalty given for handball to level the friendly in Guingamp.

    Iceland led through Birkir Bjarnason's neat finish and Kari Arnason's header.

    Read the full match report on that game here.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  4. Spain deliver Welsh masterclasspublished at 18:56 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Wales 1-4 Spain

    Wales endured a chastening return to the Principality Stadium last night when they were outplayed by Spain.

    As impressive as the visitors were, they were the beneficiaries of dismal Welsh defending which allowed Paco Alcacer to score two well-taken goals either side of a header from Sergio Ramos, who was left inexplicably unmarked from a free-kick.

    Marc Bartra glanced in a fourth - his first international goal - before Sam Vokes headed in David Brooks' fabulous cross to give some consolation for Wales

    Although they were faced with formidable opposition, Wales had precious little to encourage them before Tuesday's Nations League trip to the Republic of Ireland.

    Read the full match report on that game here.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Austria v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

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  6. Scots humiliated in Israelpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Israel 2-1 Scotland

    A Kieran Tierney own goal condemned shambolic 10-man Scotland to a bruising Nations League defeat in Israel.

    Against a side ranked 94th in the world, and with just two home wins in four years, Alex McLeish's men let a lead slip in a sobering second half.

    The Scots were ahead at the break in Haifa but eventually conceded twice and had John Souttar sent off.

    At the halfway stage of the Nations League group, Scotland, Israel and Albania all have three points.

    Read the full match report on that game here.

    .Image source, Getty Images
  7. Postpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Here's a recap of what happened yesterday...

  8. Football elsewherepublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    There's plenty of games on tonight around Europe, including England's game with Croatia over in Rijeka.

    Brazil also travel to Saudi Arabia for a friendly, while World Cup semi-finalists Belgium host Switzerland.

    *All matches are 19:45 BST and Nations League fixtures unless state otherwise.

    • Belarus v Luxembourg
    • Moldova v San Marino
    • Croatia v England
    • Estonia v Finland
    • Greece v Hungary
    • Belgium v Switzerland
    • Saudi Arabia v Brazil - 19:00 BST (friendly)
  9. Full team newspublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Austria v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Will Grigg has to settle for a place on the bench as Michael O'Neill makes three changes to the Northern Ireland team which suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their last Nations League outing.

    Goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrell retains his place, while Paddy McNair, Shane Ferguson and Josh Magennis replace Niall McGinn, Conor McLaughlin and Kyle Lafferty.

    Ferguson is handed a rare start in preference to Kilmarnock winger Jordan Jones, with Magennis the lone central striker in the starting line-up.

    Northern Ireland XI: Peacock-Farrell, McNair, Cathcart, Evans, Lewis, Norwood, Davis, Saville, Dallas, Magennis, Ferguson

    .Image source, BBC Sport

    West Ham striker Marko Arnautovic starts up front for Austria but they are without injured Bayern Munich star David Alaba.

    Austria XI: Lindner, Lainer, Prodl, Hinteregger, Ulmer, Lazaro, lsanker, Zulj, Sabitzer, Burgstaller, Arnautovic

  10. Postpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 12 October 2018

    Austria v Northern Ireland (19:45 BST)

    Northern Ireland are in action in the Nations League.

    .Image source, Getty Images

    And they are hoping to bounce back from their 2-1 defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina.

    .Image source, Getty Images

    But Austria are out to stop them.

    .Image source, Getty Images

    Kick-off in an hour.