Striker Randal Kolo Muani scored a brace as France took a big step towards the Nations League quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over hosts Belgium in a League A Group 2 clash in Brussels on Monday.

Kolo Muani netted his opener from the penalty spot after a Wout Faes handball, but Lois Openda equalised in first-half stoppage time after Belgium captain Youri Tielemans had earlier missed a spot-kick.

Kolo Muani headed in a second just past the hour-mark and France were able to hold on for the victory despite losing midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni to a second yellow card with 14 minutes remaining.

Italy head the group with 10 points from their four games, followed by France on nine. Belgium have four points and Israel zero. The top two teams qualify for the quarter-finals that will be played in March next year.

“It was a great evening, not an easy match because we knew the Belgians would cause us problems,” France goalkeeper Mike Maignan told TF1.

“My six saves? It’s good for me, it’s positive and it reflects my form at the moment,”

Belgium had hoped to end a 43-year wait for a competitive victory over France and created enough chances to have earned more from the game, but were wasteful in front of the goal, an all too familiar theme for the side.

They were without playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and striker Romelu Lukaku, who both asked to be excused from duty, while France were missing their talisman Kylian Mbappe as he also made himself unavailable for selection in this international window.

Germany advance

Germany booked a place in the quarter-finals after midfielder Jamie Leweling enjoyed a dream international debut by scoring the winner in a hard-fought 1-0 home success over the Netherlands in Group A3.

The 23-year-old Leweling, one of two Germany debutants, had the ball in the net in the second minute but his effort was ruled offside. He did score in the 64th though, firing into the top corner after the Dutch failed to properly clear a corner.

Germany are top on 10 points from four matches and guaranteed a place in the last eight, with the Dutch five points behind in second ahead of Hungary on goal difference. Bosnia are bottom with one point after losing 2-0 to the Hungarians. “We won as a team. I scored but we played a good game and I am happy to have helped,” Leweling said.

Italy outclass Israel

Italy defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo scored twice in an energizing 4-1 win at home over Israel as Luciano Spalletti’s side put one foot in the quarter-finals.

Italy need at least one point from their two remaining group games to guarantee a place in the next round.

Striker Mateo Retegui broke the deadlock by firing a penalty into the top corner in the 41st minute while after the break Di Lorenzo headed the second from Giacomo Raspadori’s free-kick.

Mohammed Abu Fani pulled a goal back for Israel in the 66th before Federico Dimarco set up Davide Frattesi for Italy’s third and Di Lorenzo sealed the win with a low shot from the edge of the box.