Since its launch in 2018, the UEFA Nations League has gained widespread approval as a profitable occasion. The occasion has steadily grown in recognition during the last six years, regardless of early skepticism.
That is largely as a result of international locations which have a tough time making it to the 2 fundamental worldwide championships have a tendency to decide on the play-off route. To spherical up the roster for this summer season’s Euro 2024 in Germany, 12 international locations will face off subsequent month.
The Nations League goes above and above in its mission to boost the worldwide schedule. When there aren’t any World Cups or European Championships, there aren’t as many pointless friendlies to fill the void.
Which groups will UK international locations face?
Paris performed host to Thursday’s UEFA Nations League draw, which decided the league stage of the competitors’s fourth iteration in 2024-25. One of many fundamental favorites, England will play the Republic of Eire on account of the draw.
The Three Lions at the moment are in League B after their demotion from the Nations League’s prime flight. They’ve a winless 2022 marketing campaign responsible for that by which they completed final of their group, behind solely Italy, Hungary, and Germany.
Greece, Eire, and Finland make up Group B2, the place Gareth Southgate’s squad will compete. The three worldwide breaks later this 12 months—in September, October, and November—will enable for the six matches to happen.
At first, the draw included Kazakhstan within the group, however they have been later taken out due to journey restrictions. Greece was then added to finish the 4.
England will earn promotion in the event that they end first of their group; in the event that they end second, they must play off towards one of many groups that completed third in League A. In the event that they end third in Group B2, they’ll play in a relegation play-off. Nonetheless, in the event that they find yourself final, they’ll go down straight to League C.
Scotland will play in League A. After escaping groups like France, Italy, and Spain, they’ll face Poland, Croatia, and Portugal. League B matches for Wales embody Montenegro, Iceland, and Turkey. If Northern Eire desires to maneuver up from League C, they need to beat Bulgaria, Belarus, and Luxembourg.
Who will France, Spain, and Italy play towards?
Group A4 consists of Serbia, Denmark, and the Nations League champions Spain, who final received the competitors in 2023. In the meantime, Italy, who at the moment are champions of the European Championship, are in an enormous “group of loss of life.”
Within the Nations League, which begins on September 5 and ends on November 19, they’ll compete towards France, Belgium, and Israel. The event’s victors will advance to the quarterfinals in March 2025.
On each residence and away fields, the Azzurri will face Israel, Belgium, and the 2021 event champions, France.
The group stage will finish in the course of November, with the primary spherical of matches going down from September 5-7. The Nations League is introducing a brand new knockout spherical this 12 months, with the highest two groups from every League A bunch advancing to a two-legged quarterfinal. The 4 ties will decide who goes to the finals.
As earlier than, the worst groups in Leagues A and B can be demoted, whereas the highest groups in Leagues B, C, and D will routinely be promoted. Additionally, Division D will change into the house to League C’s two lowest-ranked golf equipment.
2024-25 Nations League draw
League A
Group A1: Croatia, Portugal, Poland, Scotland
Group A2: Italy, Belgium, France, Israel
Group A3: Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group A4: Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, Serbia
League B
Group B1: Czechia, Ukraine, Albania, Georgia
Group B2: England, Finland, Republic of Eire, Greece
Group B3: Austria, Norway, Slovenia, Kazakhstan
Group B4: Wales, Iceland, Montenegro, Türkiye
League C
Group C1: Sweden, Azerbaijan, Slovakia, Estonia
Group C2: Romania, Kosovo, Cyprus, Lithuania/Gibraltar*
Group C3: Luxembourg, Bulgaria, Northern Eire, Belarus
Group C4: Armenia, Faroe Islands, North Macedonia, Latvia
League D
Group D1: Lithuania/Gibraltar*, San Marino, Liechtenstein
Group D2: Moldova, Malta, Andorra
*To be decided following the 2022/23 play-outs in March 2024
PHOTOS: IMAGO
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