UEFA Nations League

shibier

UEFA Nations League started yesterday which saw all the four leagues opening matches took place and it continues across the month of September, October and November international breaks. Here in this thread we can discuss on these matches and will explain  the league format, how does it work and all other aspects of this league.

The tournament involves all 55 UEFA member countries and aims to replace meaningless friendlies with increased competition.The 55 competing nations have been placed into four tiers based on their current UEFA ranking and each tier is split into four leagues - A, B, C and D - made up of three or four teams. Between September and November the teams in each league will play each other home and away.

The team finishing top of each group is promoted to a higher league and the team finishing bottom of each group is relegated to a lower league, except in the lowest tier (D).The four teams who win their respective League A groups will qualify for the knockout finals in June 2019 - semi-finals, final and third-place play-off - to decide the Nations League winner. One of those four teams will act as the hosts of the event - with a decision on that to be taken in December.

The four group winners from each league - A, B, C and D, so 16 teams in all - will play off in March 2020 in a bid to secure one of the four remaining places. The format will be one-off play-off semi-finals, followed by a final, per league, with the winning team from each of leagues A, B, C and D taking the last four spots at the Euros.

If a country has already qualified by the conventional route, their place will go to the next highest-ranked team from their respective Nations League tier. 

Below the details of each League and corresponding groups.

LEAGUE A

Group A1: Germany, France, Netherlands
Group A2: Belgium, Switzerland, Iceland
Group A3: Portugal, Italy, Poland
Group A4: Spain, England, Croatia

• Four group winners play-off for the UEFA Nations League trophy in June 2019
• Four sides that finish bottom of groups relegated to League B for 2020 edition
• Top four-ranked League A teams that do not qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 enter play-offs in March 2020, with one EURO finals place on offer

LEAGUE B

Group B1: Slovakia, Ukraine, Czech Republic
Group B2: Russia, Sweden, Turkey
Group B3: Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland
Group B4: Wales, Republic of Ireland, Denmark

 

How the play-offs for UEFA EURO 2020 work

• Four group winners promoted to League A for 2020 edition
• Four sides that finish bottom of groups relegated to League C for 2020 edition
• Top four-ranked League B teams that do not qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 enter play-offs in March 2020, with one EURO finals place on offer

LEAGUE C

Group C1: Scotland, Albania, Israel
Group C2: Hungary, Greece, Finland, Estonia
Group C3: Slovenia, Norway, Bulgaria, Cyprus
Group C4: Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Lithuania

• Four group winners promoted to League B for 2020 edition
• Four sides that finish bottom of groups relegated to League D for 2020 edition
• Top four-ranked League C teams that do not qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 enter play-offs in March 2020, with one EURO finals place on offer

LEAGUE D

Group D1: Georgia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Andorra
Group D2: Belarus, Luxembourg, Moldova, San Marino
Group D3: Azerbaijan, Faroe Islands, Malta, Kosovo
Group D4: FYR Macedonia, Armenia, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar

• Four group winners promoted to League C for 2020 edition
• Top four-ranked League C teams that do not qualify for UEFA EURO 2020 enter play-offs in March 2020, with one EURO finals place on offer

 

indianFootballFan

Germany and France play a goalless draw in the first ever match of UEFA Nations League.

goalkeepar

We need this in Asia 

Ratul

@indianFootballFan first ever match was between Kazkhshtan & Georgia 

Deb_Ban

Like the idea of a continental league, but if this replaces some of the 'meaningless' friendlies, then it also eliminates the chance meetings of Group D countries with Group A countries. So their development would be slow-tracked.

ashindia

Dont like this idea. Seems just like overkill of football just like Cricket in India.

munna219777

Rubbish idea. These European sides not necessarily wish to play Friendlies with other European sides. depending on their needs, they might play against USA or Ivory Coast. They already play against other European sides for World Cup and Euro Cup Qualifiers.

Those so called meaningless friendlies play an important part in trying new players, new strategies, preparing for big challenges. Now by making even that into competition, that whole freedom and development is gone. This will just lead to more player fatigue and overall decline.

Greedy sponsors have destroyed Davis Cup tennis and now they are doing it in UEFA.

Deb_Ban

This is Infantino's pet idea, like 48-team World Cup.

shibier

This idea more suits to Asia ,  also there won't be much football (overkill) as you think . Only bottom league (D Division ) have 4 teams in a group.  So total 6 international matches in a span of three months. Top leagues have only 3 teams in a group and they get 4 matches during this league . It's definitely not over dose of football and if required they can arrange friendlies with non European nations. Also 4 spots of European nations cup will be allocated for these league which will give a second chance for the nation's who failed to qualify from the Euro qualifiers . Just imagine If Holland or France failed to get qualified from their respective groups they still can qualify by playing the play offs if this league.

Ratul

European teams are still playing friendlies and will continue to do so.

goalkeepar

https://www.nst.com.my/sports/football/2018/09/409003/afc-may-organise-asian-nations-league