The draw for the Nations League was done last night with League A bringing about some very interesting ties between some of the worlds best teams
2018 was the first year of the Nations League. It was brought in as a way to make international football breaks that slightly bit more entertaining. Each of the 54 football nations who are members of UEFA competes in different divisions and league to win a trophy.
The structure of it has changed this year, and it is also quite confusing. There are four different leagues, A, B, C, and D. League A is the top league with League D the lowest. Each of the league is divided into groups 1-4. In League A the top team from each group goes on to play in the Nations League Finals to have a chance of winning a trophy. In the other leagues, finishing top gains you promotion to the next league for the following campaign. Finishing bottom of your group will see you relegated to the division below.
The Nations League has been brought in to remove “meaningless friendless” even though most fans are bothered about this competition anyway…
Last night the draw was done and even if the games are meaningless, there is still som interesting fixtures!
UEFA Nations League Draw: World Champions France To Play Inaugural Winners Portugal and Croatia https://t.co/YiBCD0ZjMQ pic.twitter.com/C62YwTKdPp
— Globgistblog (@globgist) March 4, 2020
League A, Group 1
Last years runners up The Netherlands are in the first group along with Italy, Bosnia and Poland. The Netherlands are the second-favourites to win the competition on Betway at 7/1. Italy are starting to get back to the Italian side of old under Mancini so could make it tougher than expected for The Netherlands. They are just behind The Netherlands at 8/1.
Bosnia and Poland shouldn’t be too much to worry about for the other two sides. Bosnia are at 33/1 with Poland at 40/1. Given that they have Lewandowski in their side that could be an interesting bet.
League A, Group 2
Last years semi-finalist England join Belgium, Denmark and Iceland. This is an interesting group for Southgate’s side who are 15/2 with Betway. They faced Belgium twice in the World Cup so will know a lot about them. The Belgium side is full of superstars and they are 9/1 to go all the way.
England also knows Iceland well, for the wrong reasons. The 33/1 priced side beaten England dramatically in Euro 2016 to send them home earlier than expected. In terms of Denmark, England have friendly against them before this summers Euro’s, which will be good preparation for then. Denmark are priced shorter than Iceland at 25/1.
League A, Group 3
Portugal, who were the inaugural winners of the Nationals League, are in a group with France, Sweden and Croatia. This is a very tough group especially given that France, The 2018 World Cup winners, are the 6/1 favourites.
This group will also give us a replay of the 2018 World Cup final as Croatia came runners up. Portugal are priced at 12/1 to retain the trophy with Croatia at 20/1. Sweden aren’t the side they used to be and cause of that are way out at 40/1.
League A, Group 4
The final group is Switzerland, Spain, Germany and Ukraine. Like Italy, Spain and Germany are getting back to their best. Spain are ahead in the odds at 15/2 with Germany at 9/1. This will be a great match up and a test to see where the two sides are.
Switzerland are at 25/1 but they arent the highest in the group, with Ukraine at 50/1.
The Nations League starts this September and finishes in November.
