2018–19 UEFA Nations League [Archive] - Page 4

DeLorean

12/12/2017, 7:46 AM

I'd be happy out with Wales again actually. On recent evidence there's probably a 90% chance Bale will miss at least one of the two matches, and they might have Robbie Savage or somebody managing them by then. :)

Wales & NI my preferred two in terms of winning the group.

Russia & Turkey in terms of countries I've never been, the only two actually from those possibilities.

pineapple stu

14/01/2018, 6:34 PM

Draw for this is on Wednesday week. Think it's on Sky. Didn't catch the time, but presume around lunchtime.

BonnieShels

14/01/2018, 7:13 PM

They'll also be unveiling the trophy. Hopefully it's not gack like a lot of the recent UEFA attempts.

elroy

14/01/2018, 10:08 PM

Need something to look forward to. I know these games are not friendlies and should be seen as competitive. Nonetheless the fact we are over a year from Euro qualifiers is not good and should�ve been avoided

Real ale Madrid

16/01/2018, 10:46 AM

http://www.footballseeding.com/tournaments/uefa-nations-league-2018-2019/

Just reading up on this again this morning and a few reasons ( new to me ) why this tournament is worthwhile.

1. Group winners are guaranteed a play-off for Euro 2020 no matter what happens in the Qualification Tournament.(Probably knew that already but not a bad reason to give it full throttle)

2. If you don't win the group placing becomes important - as group winners and runners-up go into POT 2 for the Euro 2020 qualification Draw. Placing 3rd puts you in POT 3. For a country like ours that is important IMO - especially when its top 2 to qualify only.

Kingdom

16/01/2018, 12:23 PM

geysir

16/01/2018, 1:58 PM

That article from Football Seeding explains it all very succinctly. It could rightly be made the default explanation page.

I was wondering what would happen if there was only one team from League A that didn't qualify via the conventional route ("the classic qualifiers"), would they grab the guaranteed one spot for that league? Or if there were two teams left, would there be just the one play off? If you don't know then try and figure out what would or could happen in that circumstance before reading the answer in the article.

Other than that I see there's a long gap between the end of the "classic qualifiers" in November and the play offs in March the next year.I suppose the format of the play offs lends itself better to being played later, in a proper international "window".

One thing that should be changed imo is that a yellow card shouldn't carry through to the play offs from the qualifiers. In our recent play off, both teams had a cluster of players on a yellow and the ref was applauded for being "sensible" in not penalising players in the first leg. This was a ref (the bane of Slovakia in Hampden pk) who has a reputation of not being shy to discipline with cards. In our first leg he changed the 'strict to the letter' way he normally officiates to one of leniency. I don't think the yellow card count should have been brought into the refereeing equation. Maybe a ref can be flexible with one or two players already on a card but afair there were about 15 players on a yellow. Just take the yellow cards out and let the refs act as normal as possible.

pineapple stu

16/01/2018, 4:45 PM

I was wondering what would happen if there was only one team from League A that didn't qualify via the conventional route ("the classic qualifiers"), would they grab the guaranteed one spot for that league?
Four teams will qualify for the play-offs at all times, none of whom will have qualified for the Euros directly.

If there aren't four eligible teams from League A (entirely possible), then teams from League B will be bumped up. I think the first four eligible League B teams stay in the League B play-offs, and the next lot go to the League A play-off. So conceivably, we could get relegated from League B and still get a play-off against Holland and AN Other to reach the Euros.

(From UEFA's little cartoon thingy.)

geysir

16/01/2018, 5:35 PM

Four teams will qualify for the play-offs at all times, none of whom will have qualified for the Euros directly.

If there aren't four eligible teams from League A (entirely possible), then teams from League B will be bumped up. I think the first four eligible League B teams stay in the League B play-offs, and the next lot go to the League A play-off. So conceivably, we could get relegated from League B and still get a play-off against Holland and AN Other to reach the Euros.

(From UEFA's little cartoon thingy.)
Thanks, however, the answer was already in the linked Football Seeding article, I was just posing a riddle.

If you don't know then try and figure out what would or could happen in that circumstance before reading the answer in the article.

NeverFeltBetter

16/01/2018, 7:33 PM

It'd be interesting if we got either Wales/Austria along with Denmark. O'Neill's results would be a true barometer of whether we're improving or degrading.

geysir

17/01/2018, 4:45 PM

Tough luck for the unqualified top teams in our league B left vying for the play off-spot, should there be less than 4 teams left unqualified (the conventional way) in League A.

If say 2 teams from League A drop down to League B looking for a play-off partner, they will be paired against the top 2 play-off candidates from League B who will not only have to face (much) stronger opposition but will also have to play away from home, instead of a banker home play-off against lowlier opposition.

From the Football Seeding article
'Play-off slots are dropped down to lower Leagues if less than four teams remain available for a play-offs. Best-ranked team will play against fourth best-ranked team and second best-ranked team will play against third best-ranked team (higher-ranked teams play semi-final at home field, venue for the final will be drawn in advance between the two semi-finals' winners).'

Real ale Madrid

24/01/2018, 10:39 AM

Denmark!
Wales!

NeverFeltBetter

24/01/2018, 10:40 AM

It'd be interesting if we got either Wales/Austria along with Denmark. O'Neill's results would be a true barometer of whether we're improving or degrading.

Well, here we are.

backstothewall

24/01/2018, 10:48 AM

When will the dates be announced? Particular interest in the Cardiff game

Real ale Madrid

24/01/2018, 10:48 AM

When will the dates be announced? Particular interest in the Cardiff game

about 3.30

osarusan

24/01/2018, 10:49 AM

oops, deleted by acident.

Nations League: League B

Group 1: Czech Republic, Ukraine, Slovakia.

Group 2: Turkey, Sweden, Russia.

Group 3: Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria.

Group 4: Denmark, Republic of Ireland, Wales.

tetsujin1979

24/01/2018, 10:51 AM

osarusan

24/01/2018, 10:55 AM

Fixtures

Nations League: When will the games be played?

Specific fixtures will be announced by Uefa in due course, but this is when matches will take place. Teams in League A and League B only have four matches so will play on four of the six matchdays.

Matchday 1: 6–8 September 2018

Matchday 2: 9–11 September 2018

Matchday 3: 11–13 October 2018

Matchday 4: 14–16 October 2018

Matchday 5: 15–17 November 2018

Matchday 6: 18–20 November 2018

Nations League Finals draw: early December 2018

Nations League Finals: 5–9 June 2019

Real ale Madrid

24/01/2018, 10:57 AM

So, our next two competitive games will be against the same opposition as our last two competitive games.

I really don't want to face Denmark again so soon. Wales will be out for revenge, and will be unpredictable with a new (and unproven) manager in charge

I'll spin that in a different way - Denmark after a world cup hangover and Wales with an unproven manager. We will be singing ; we are the champions ( of group 4b ) come November.

NeverFeltBetter

24/01/2018, 11:00 AM

What's the aim here? Second? Or should we be pushing for first? That would presumably require six points from the four games, minimum.

pineapple stu

24/01/2018, 11:09 AM

I think first may be beyond us given the Denmark thrashing. I know we had to go for the win, but they were streets ahead of us even over the whole 180 minutes. Not sure what's going to change between now and then.

Also, now is the time to start asking whether we want to finish third and get relegated to League C so we can have an easier shot at winning a Euro spot through the play-offs. (It has been suggested that the back-door play-offs will be available for the World Cup as well, though it's not confirmed)

brine3

24/01/2018, 11:11 AM

I haven't been this excited since I last tied my shoelaces.

Real ale Madrid

24/01/2018, 11:22 AM

What's the aim here? Second? Or should we be pushing for first? That would presumably require six points from the four games, minimum.

Finish First:

Promoted to Nations League A for 2020/21
Guarenteed a play-off for Euro 2020 no matter what happens in Qualification
Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw

Finish Second:

Stay in Nations League B for 2020/21
Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw

Finish third:

Relegated to Nations League C for 2020/21
Enter Pot 3 for Euro 2020 Draw

DannyInvincible

24/01/2018, 2:08 PM

I wouldn't have minded some alternative opposition seeing as our last three competitive games were against Denmark and Wales. Being drawn against NI might have added a bit of spice to things. At the minute, I'm still finding it difficult to feel properly enthused about this (mainly due to the fact that the first games are still nine months away and I know we have no World Cup to look forward to before that in the summer), but I'm sure that mild apathy will disappear once the games eventually come round.

As has been pointed out, I guess facing the same opposition again will be a good way of testing who has improved, stagnated or regressed. Despite the 5-1 loss in the second leg of the play-offs, I'm not overly daunted by facing Denmark again. They looked toothless enough when we kept things tight in the first leg whilst the heavy loss in the second leg resulted from us having to chase the game and Martin O'Neill losing the plot by giving their talisman more space within which to operate than he could ever have dreamed of. It was a total tactical ****-up. They're obviously a better team than us technically, but they're not a Germany, a Spain or a France either.

The Wales games will be tough slogs again. They have 0-0 written all over them. In fact, I could see us drawing every game in the group here.

Diggs246

24/01/2018, 2:31 PM

Finish First:

Promoted to Nations League A for 2020/21
Guarenteed a play-off for Euro 2020 no matter what happens in Qualification
Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw

Finish Second:

Stay in Nations League B for 2020/21
Enter Pot 2 for Euro 2020 Draw

Finish third:

Relegated to Nations League C for 2020/21
Enter Pot 3 for Euro 2020 Draw

Thanks, that's by far the clearest post and or media article on how this works

jinxy lilywhite

24/01/2018, 3:15 PM

When will the draw for the qualification proper be made?

pineapple stu

24/01/2018, 3:32 PM

2nd December

Kingdom

24/01/2018, 3:42 PM

Horrid draw. Last thing we needed. He's going to have to make good use of the March and Summer friendlies.

Real ale Madrid

24/01/2018, 3:59 PM

First up Wales away on the 6th of September.

Full list of Fixtures

6/9/18 Wales v Republic of Ireland 7.45pm
9/9/18 Denmark v Wales 5.00pm

13/10/18 Republic of Ireland v Denmark 7.45pm
16/10/18 Republic of Ireland v Wales 7.45pm

16/11/18 Wales v Denmark 7.45pm
19/11/18 Denmark v Republic of Ireland 7.45pm

Gather round

24/01/2018, 4:26 PM

Being drawn against NI might have added a bit of spice to things

Well we're both free in the 9-11 September window (along with 7 other European teams, 6 of whom we've played competitively since 2013 plus England).

I can see another 'closed' friendly in Dublin as in 2016.

Most NI fans I've spoken to are quite pleased to avoid any spiciness (or as I prefer to call it, inevitable public disorder and associated whataboutery/ mopery from cousin Jude and co :eek:)

geysir

24/01/2018, 8:02 PM

This draw is bad deja vu,
though the fixture schedule is kind with 2 home games in succession inside the short turnaround.

backstothewall

25/01/2018, 4:36 PM

Well we're both free in the 9-11 September window (along with 7 other European teams, 6 of whom we've played competitively since 2013 plus England).

I can see another 'closed' friendly in Dublin as in 2016.

Most NI fans I've spoken to are quite pleased to avoid any spiciness (or as I prefer to call it, inevitable public disorder and associated whataboutery/ mopery from cousin Jude and co :eek:)

I feel like it's time to grasp the nettle and play each other in Belfast. Given how friendlies are poisonous for rankings I like the idea of a B international

DeLorean

25/01/2018, 4:40 PM

This draw is bad deja vu,
though the fixture schedule is kind with 2 home games in succession inside the short turnaround.

Agree on both points. I thought on first viewing that starting and ending with away games could only be a bad thing, but on closer inspection having the two games in a few days at home should be a little bit of an advantage.

jbyrne

25/01/2018, 5:01 PM

Agree on both points. I thought on first viewing that starting and ending with away games could only be a bad thing, but on closer inspection having the two games in a few days at home should be a little bit of an advantage.

except don't wales have the advantage of only playing us in that fixture window that we have 2 games?

DeLorean

25/01/2018, 5:04 PM

except don't wales have the advantage of only playing us in that fixture window that we have 2 games?

Good point, but Wales have to travel to Copenhagen after a potentially bruising battle with us too. I think I'd prefer our schedule overall.

NeverFeltBetter

23/04/2018, 9:07 PM

FIFA are looking to expand this concept to every other confederation (https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43868703), with the best teams going to a "Final 8" knock-out, possibly as a replacement for the Confederations Cup. Also looking to turn the Club World Cup into a bigger deal, with 24 (!) teams every four years.

Essentially it looks like they want a major tournament of some description every summer.

tetsujin1979

23/04/2018, 9:16 PM

At what point does player welfare become a concern? Playing that much, non stop, is going to cause injuries.

NeverFeltBetter

10/08/2018, 7:35 PM

At what point does player welfare become a concern? Playing that much, non stop, is going to cause injuries.

I was reminded of this comment after a note on Alexis Sanchez during tonight's EPL opener: between World Cups, Copa Americas and Confederation Cups, this was his first summer in eight years without international football of some kind.

tetsujin1979

22/08/2018, 11:19 AM

Squad set to be announced on Monday, according to some reports.

geysir

22/08/2018, 11:15 PM

I was reminded of this comment after a note on Alexis Sanchez during tonight's EPL opener: between World Cups, Copa Americas and Confederation Cups, this was his first summer in eight years without international football of some kind.
And yet he's injured for the start of this epl season isn't he?

tetsujin1979

06/11/2018, 12:10 AM

Welsh Squad named for the game against Denmark and a friendly against Albania. First call up for Anderlecht's James Lawrence
1059415995008327682

samhaydenjr

18/11/2018, 7:38 PM

Northern Ireland lost to a late, late Austrian goal, a goal that could yet be significant if we need to use the last-chance play-offs to qualify as it ensures that The North will be ranked below us in the League B standings (although a win in Denmark would definitely be welcome to ensure that we would be in a position to take advantage of this route, if necessary, with Turkey, Slovakia and the Czech Republic all sitting on three points): https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46167891

Eirambler

13/06/2019, 7:26 PM

Mentioned on SSN earlier that UEFA are (somewhat cynically) looking at rejigging the Nations League format so that the likes of Germany, who were relegated this time around, get to stay in the top division. They would do this by increasing the top division to four groups of four instead of four groups of three. The teams promoted from Division 2 would still be promoted to Division 1.

Presumably the knock on effect of this would be that the teams relegated from Division 2 (e.g. Ireland) would also have to be spared relegation so that there are enough Division 2 teams left and we would therefore return to Division 2 alongside the teams promoted from Division 3 for the next season of the competition.

pineapple stu

13/06/2019, 7:34 PM

Ah that's getting ridiculous.

It's looking more like UEFA haven't really thought this through to be honest. With groups of 3 in League A, of course someone big was going to get relegated.

BonnieShels

13/06/2019, 8:29 PM

But the point of the groups of 3 were to enable the big countries to have some NL games and space to organise their own friendlies.

Absolute madness that they would change, which by all accounts was a very successful first edition of what threatened to be a maligned tournament.

Eirambler

13/06/2019, 9:39 PM

I'd say they've realised that there's more money to be made in having two extra NL games than having two friendlies. From a purely profit point of view (which is usually all that matters in these situations) having groups of four in division 1 makes more sense than having groups of four in division 4. Nobody is relegated, the promoted teams are still promoted, everybody wins.

Although it would result in an even weaker division 4 team qualifying for the Euros in future - actually I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped the place for the division 4 team to free up the spot for the host nation next time.