More misery for Italy as they lose in Portugal

After failing to qualify for last summer’s World Cup finals, Italy have now made an inauspicious start to their Nations League campaign.

Having drawn their opening match in Group A3 with Poland on Friday, manager Roberto Mancini’s side lost 1-0 to Portugal in Lisbon last night. Sevilla’s Andre Silva scored the decisive goal after 48 minutes.

In Group B2 Emre Akbaba scored an injury-time winner as Turkey came from behind to defeat Sweden 3-2 in Stockholm.

The home side had led through Isaac Thelin and Viktor Claessen but Hakan Calhanoglu began the second-half fightback by pulling a goal back before Galatasaray midfielder Akbaba equalised in the 88th minute, then struck his last-gasp clincher.

Spain’s coach, Luis Enrique, has promised that his side will follow up their victory over England on Saturday with a performance full of verve when they take on World Cup finalists Croatia in their Group A4 match in Elche this evening.

“We will attack from the start,” he said. “We’ll try to have the ball, generate more chances than our opponents, press as high as possible. We need to dominate the important phases of play, that’s our plan. I am convinced we will do it. The objective is to evolve and stop being predictable.”

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic saud: “This is not a mustwin match for us, but a good result would keep our mood positive. Spain didn’t meet their expectations at the World Cup and are highly motivated now. It will be a tough match so I think a draw would be good for us as well.”

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, having seen his side defeat Scotland comfortably in a friendly last Friday, expects a more difficult test in Iceland in Group A2 tonight.

“It will be a different game,” he said. “Iceland have much more experience. They were good at the Euros as well as the World Cup. It’ll be tough, especially at their place, but we’re ready for it. The Nations League is important – it’s a new competition that we obviously want to win.”