France, Germany down rivals in Nations League

PTI Brussels: France and Germany had stand-in forwards to thank for wins over fierce rivals in the Nations League. With Kylian Mbappé again absent, Randal Kolo Muani started up front for France and scored in each half in a 2-1 victory away to neighbor Belgium. The Belgians must be sick of the sight of Kolo Muani, who also netted in a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture in Lyon last month. It was also the Paris Saint- Germain striker's shot that deflected into the net when France beat Belgium 1-0 in the last 16 at the European Championship during the summer.On his debut for Germany, Jamie Leweling had a secondminute strike ruled out after a video review but had more luck with a rasping drive in the 64th to seal a 1-0 triumph over the Netherlands in Munich. Leweling, a forward for Stuttgart, was one of four players making their first starts for Germany on a night fans paid tribute to four players Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller and Ilkay Gundogan who recently retired from national-team duty.