The 2026/27 UEFA Nations League Matchday 2 delivered solid individual performances, surprises, and plenty of talking points, with several of Europe’s biggest nations beginning to show their identity.
From Lamine Yamal’s latest starring performance for Spain to Cristiano Ronaldo watching Portugal’s victory from the bench, Nations League Matchday 2 offered plenty for fans to digest. Here are five of the biggest takeaways.
UEFA Nations League Matchday 2 Takeaways
1. Yamal Continues To Look Unstoppable For Spain
If Nations League Matchday 2 was about emerging stars making their mark, Lamine Yamal was impossible to overlook. The Barcelona winger scored twice as Spain swept aside Croatia 4-1, opening the scoring inside two minutes before adding another after the break. He also created Marc Pubill’s goal with an excellent delivery.
Yamal now looks increasingly comfortable carrying responsibility for Spain. His ability to create danger from almost anywhere on the pitch is becoming one of the defining features of this team, as well as his improved finishing.
For Spain, Nations League Matchday 2 was another reminder that their attacking future is already here…and it’s terrifying for the rest.
2. Is Portugal Better With Ronaldo On The Bench?
One of the most intriguing questions from Nations League Matchday 2 came from Oslo. Portugal defeated Norway 2-1 with Cristiano Ronaldo remaining an unused substitute. Joao Felix opened the scoring before Gonçalo Ramos produced the decisive second goal. Diogo Costa also made several important saves as Norway pushed for an equaliser.
Jorge Jesus described the decision to leave Ronaldo out as a tactical choice rather than making it about the veteran forward’s status. That makes the question more interesting, not less.
Portugal certainly did not dominate Norway, but they showed they can win a major away fixture without Ronaldo on the pitch. It would be premature to draw a sweeping conclusion from one match, but Nations League Matchday 2 has undoubtedly given Jesus another tactical option to consider.
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3. Zidane’s France Already Have Serious Depth
Zinedine Zidane’s early reign took another positive step as France defeated Belgium 1-0 in Brussels.
With Kylian Mbappe unavailable, Zidane made nine changes from the previous match. France still controlled large periods of the game and eventually found the breakthrough through Michael Olise’s brilliant late solo effort.
That may be the most encouraging aspect of Nations League Matchday 2 for France. Zidane was able to rotate heavily, introduce new faces, and still leave Belgium with a victory.
The France manager also praised the team’s pressing, courage, and adaptability after the match. The result suggests Zidane has an enormous pool of talent to work with.
4. Italy Respond In Emphatic Fashion
Italy needed a response after losing to Belgium on Matchday 1, and they delivered one in spectacular fashion – perhaps even more spectacular than one of Antonio Conte’s trademark celebrations.
A 4-1 victory over Turkey gave Roberto Mancini’s side their first points of the campaign, with Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi, Michael Kayode and Pio Esposito all contributing to the scoreline.
The emphatic result was one of the clearest statements of Nations League Matchday 2. Italy still have work to do, but their response showed the resilience that has long been a defining trait of the Azzurri.
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5. England And Greece Provide Contrasting Statements
England also got their campaign moving with a 2-0 victory over Czechia. Anthony Gordon broke the deadlock before Harry Kane added the second, giving Thomas Tuchel’s team their first Group A3 win.
But perhaps the bigger surprise came from Greece; Greece stunned Germany 1-0 in Augsburg, securing a historic first victory over Germany after ten previous attempts. Dimitris Kourbelis’ deflected strike settled the contest and continued Greece’s perfect start.
That contrast captures what made Nations League Matchday 2 so compelling: Established powers finding their rhythm while unexpected challengers continue to disrupt the traditional hierarchy. The next round should reveal whether these were isolated moments or the beginning of bigger trends. For now, Nations League Matchday 2 has given Europe’s leading nations plenty to think about.
Extra Time Notes
Nations League Matchday 2 left Europe with more questions than answers, and that is exactly what makes the competition so compelling.
Lamine Yamal once again showed why Spain can build its future around him, while Portugal’s win without Cristiano Ronaldo has raised fresh questions about their attacking balance. In France, Zinedine Zidane is already discovering the depth of talent at his disposal, with the victory over Belgium offering an encouraging glimpse of what could come next. Italy and England responded strongly while Greece delivered one of the biggest surprises by beating Germany on the road.
With the next matchday looming, Nations League Matchday 2 may prove to be the round when Europe’s contenders began revealing what they are really capable of.
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