Football news today is led by three stories. Zinedine Zidane’s France were held to a 1-1 draw by Italy in the Nations League, Manchester City have lodged their appeal against the Premier League’s guilty verdict, and England travel to Croatia on Saturday evening. Here is a clear round-up of what happened on October 2 and what to watch on October 3, 2026.
Football News Today: France 1-1 Italy in Zidane’s Home Debut
Zinedine Zidane’s first home match as France coach did not end in a win. In front of 77,118 fans at the Stade de France on Friday, Michael Olise put France ahead in the 55th minute with a long-range strike. Inter defender Alessandro Bastoni equalised midway through the second half, and the Italians held on for a point.
France finished with ten men after defender Dayot Upamecano was sent off late in the game. Italy had the first big chance, but Moise Kean shot straight at Mike Maignan from close range. Italy’s goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma then made several saves to keep France out. Zidane said he was disappointed because he felt his team deserved more from the match.
The draw leaves France top of Nations League Group A1 with seven points, one ahead of Belgium. Italy, coached by Roberto Mancini, have four points and host Türkiye next. France and Belgium meet on Monday, October 5, in the last game of this international window.
De Bruyne Scores Twice as Belgium Beat Türkiye 3-0
Belgium kept the pressure on France with a 3-0 win over Türkiye in Liège. Kevin De Bruyne, now 35 and playing for Napoli, scored in the 10th minute after a one-two with Dodi Lukébakio, then added a second goal from outside the box around the hour mark. Substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the win in the 76th minute.
ESPN reported the double as the 200th and 201st goals of his career. Other outlets count his total slightly differently after the match, so the exact figure varies by source. He has scored 108 goals for Manchester City and around 40 for Belgium. Belgium have six points from three games.
Man City Lodge Appeal Against Guilty Verdict
Manchester City confirmed on Friday that they have lodged an appeal against the independent commission’s ruling. On Tuesday, the Premier League announced that City were found guilty of all charges linked to serious breaches of its financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The charges were first brought in February 2023. City say they are innocent and have described their appeal as comprehensive.
No punishment has been decided yet. The Premier League has said the sanction will be dealt with in a separate hearing. The appeal itself will stay private until the league is allowed to publish the outcome. An appeal board has wide powers and can allow the appeal, dismiss it or make another order.
How long this will take is still unclear. The Associated Press reports that league rules point to a hearing within about 12 weeks, while Sky Sports analysis says the process could run into 2027. For the full background, read our earlier report on the Man City 115 charges verdict.
England vs Croatia: Kick-Off Time, Team News and How to Watch
England play Croatia today in Nations League Group A3 at the HNK Rijeka Stadium. Kick-off is 5pm BST, which is 9:30pm in India. The match is on ITV1 in the UK and on the Sony Sports Network in India.
Both teams have three points from two games. England lost 3-2 to Spain at Wembley, then won 2-0 in Czechia thanks to goals from Anthony Gordon and Harry Kane. Croatia beat Czechia 2-1 but lost 4-1 to Spain. England also beat Croatia 4-2 in the group stage of this summer’s World Cup.
On team news, defender Ezri Konsa came through a full training session on Friday and could return. Jordan Pickford is expected back in goal, and Jude Bellingham is expected to start. Kane, Bukayo Saka and Gordon should lead the attack. This section is a preview, because the match had not been played when this article was written.
Other Football Headlines
- Savage has been appointed manager of League One club Peterborough United.
- Brighton’s Fabian Hürzeler, Pascal Gross and Lewis Dunk won Premier League awards for September.
Key Matches at a Glance
| Match | Competition | Result / Date |
|---|---|---|
| France vs Italy | Nations League, Group A1 | 1-1 (October 2) |
| Belgium vs Türkiye | Nations League, Group A1 | 3-0 (October 2) |
| Croatia vs England | Nations League, Group A3 | October 3, 5pm BST |
| France vs Belgium | Nations League, Group A1 | October 5 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest football news today?
The biggest stories are France’s 1-1 draw with Italy, Manchester City’s appeal against the Premier League verdict, and the England vs Croatia Nations League match.
What time is England vs Croatia in India?
The match kicks off at 9:30pm IST on Saturday, October 3, and is shown on the Sony Sports Network.
Has Man City been punished yet?
No. The sanction will be decided in a separate hearing, and City have appealed the guilty verdict.
Who is top of Nations League Group A1?
France lead with seven points, followed by Belgium on six and Italy on four.
For more updates, follow Football News, Premier League and Champions League on Kehl Samachar.
Sources: ESPN, Al Jazeera, France 24, Goal, CBC Sports, beIN Sports, Sky Sports, Associated Press and Racing Post.
Image credit: Stade de France during a France v Germany Nations League match in October 2018, photo by Zakarie Faibis via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Niraj Yadav is the Founder of Kehlsamachar.com and a passionate cricket content writer. He covers match previews, reports, live updates, player performances, points tables, and major cricket tournaments, bringing readers clear, reliable, and up-to-date sports coverage.