2018–19 UEFA Nations League

[NeverFeltBetter]

Just to give this its own thread: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...s-backing.html

Looks like this idea is going ahead, but changed from the nine division format that was originally mooted. Instead, larger divisions of 16 teams each, further split into groups of four, with a knock-out stage to decide actual winners. Likely to begin sometime in/after 2018. Going by FIFA/UEFA rankings at the moment, Ireland would be somewhere in a third division I suppose.

[BonnieShels]

I preferred the idea of the 9 division format. It was much more straightforward.

Either way this has to be welcomed.

[Stuttgart88]

I agree, fantastic news. Only a nerd (like me and several others here) really got anything out of the friendlies. They lack intensity, context (other than getting a look at players) and excitement. Bring it on.

Is division based on UEFA coefficients or what?

Any idea how the TV money is being divvied up?

[DeLorean]

Sounds great overall. I suppose it would mean the end for friendlies against any teams outside of Europe though, more or less, but not a big deal I suppose. We don't have too many anyway.

This bit seems crazy though:

"As well as the carrot of promotion, winners of the lower divisions could be rewarded with wild-card places at future European Championships."

[osarusan]

Sounds pretty interesting.

So there is a 16-team top flight divided into 4 groups of 4, but what's under that? More mini-groups, or more levels? I'm wondering how promotion would work, if there are mini-groups underneath also. Perhaps a playoff similar to the top flight, but with promotion as a reward?

I also wonder how the rankings would work, regarding qualification for world cups or european championships. Would there be two separate ranking systems, or would results in one affect seeding for the others? Could be problematic if it is the latter.

[geysir]

I have used up my Telegraph quota, so I can't read that article.
Does this new nations league replace the existing play-off system to decide the final 4 qualifiers?
If so, I suspect that would make it even harder for us to get to a WC ever again.

[pineapple stu]

This has nothing to do with the World Cup. So no, doesn't replace the play-offs. Just replaces friendlies.

Sounds fun.

[osarusan]

I have used up my Telegraph quota, so I can't read that article.
Does this new nations league replace the existing play-off system to decide the final 4 qualifiers?
If so, I suspect that would make it even harder for us to get to a WC ever again.

A competition every 2 years. Seems like the group stages would run parallel to WC or EC qualifying. The finals (2 semis + final) would take place in years with no WC or EC final.

[osarusan]

From the article:

The precise format of the competition has yet to be confirmed but it is understood that there is almost unanimous support for a biennial event which would replace friendly games and run in parallel with the World Cup and European Championship from 2018.

As it stands, Uefa wants to divide the event into three or four divisions, with promotion and relegation between them.

England would qualify for a 16-team top flight, which would be split into four groups of four, with home and away fixtures taking place alongside qualifying matches for the World Cup and European Championship. Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Holland and Portugal are all likely to join England in the top division.

The winners of each of the four groups would then advance to a ‘Final Four’ tournament at a neutral venue, with two semi-finals and a final taking place over several days during the summer of odd-numbered years.

As well as the carrot of promotion, winners of the lower divisions could be rewarded with wild-card places at future European Championships.

[geysir]

This has nothing to do with the World Cup. So no, doesn't replace the play-offs. Just replaces friendlies.

Sounds fun.

Have you read a statement from Uefa about that?
The story that's being widely repeated is that in reference to the Euro and WC,
'the new tournament would not replace the current qualifying competitions for those major events, but it would award the four qualification spots that are currently decided by the play-offs'

[osarusan]

Have you read a statement from Uefa about that?
The story that's being widely repeated is that in reference to the Euro and WC,
[I']the new tournament would not replace the current qualifying competitions for those major events, but it would award the four qualification spots that are currently decided by the play-offs.'[/I]

Perhaps the 'wildcards' mentioned in the article refers to what are now playoff places?

[pineapple stu]

The article linked refers to wildcards for the Euros only. Geysir was asking about the World Cup. Specifically, it says "winners of the lower divisions could be rewarded with wild-card places at future European Championships", so it's pure speculation for the moment anyway.

I don't see how the wildcards could entirely replace the playoffs though. You've got four wildcards presumably - four divisional winners. The Division 1 winner will have qualified anyway. Division 2 would possibly - I'd say half the time or more - have qualified. Would UEFA want the Division 4 winner at the Euros? I don't see that that could really be a concern for us either way.

You'd also have divisional winners decided by the summer of 2019, which would be at the key stages of the Euro 2020 qualification schedule. Would they award qualification spots to teams three games from the end of qualification, running the risk that countries treat the remainder of games like proper friendlies? Seems to be going down the same line as understrength teams in the Premiership.

[geysir]

Is this Telegraph article being awarded special status, above all others?
The story that is being repeated in most other media outlets is that WC and Euro playoff places will be awarded in this nations league set up.

Uefa haven't released a statement yet, have they?


Edit.

In the absence of a Uefa statement confirming the format of the tournament.
This is the status quo format according to 'reliable' Uefa sources.

UEFA's new 'League of Nations' tournament will see some countries win qualifying places for the World Cup and European Championships, it has emerged.

The new tournament, which would be played biennially in odd-numbered years on the dates currently reserved for friendlies, is expected to be given the go-ahead by UEFA's Congress in Kazakhstan on Thursday after receiving backing from the body's ruling executive committee on Wednesday.The exact format has still to be confirmed, but UEFA sources said European countries would be split into four divisions, with England set to be in a top division of 14 teams along with Spain, Germany, Italy and Holland.The Nations League would begin after the 2018 World Cup and have a climax of semi-finals and final at a neutral venue, while in the lower divisions there would be a final to decide on promotion and qualification places for the World Cup and European Championships.The new tournament would not replace the current qualifying competitions for those major events, but it would award the four qualification spots that are currently decided by the play-offs.

[pineapple stu]

Well link away and add to the debate so. The Telegraph article is the only one on the thread.

Either way, I don't think such a system would mean the end of WC qualification as you put it.

Edit - I'll do it for you to save you another moan. Here's Sky Sports, for example, saying that 2022 play off spots would require FIFA approval, so nothing more can really be said about it till FIFA comment.

But either way, if there's the same number of countries qualifying from Europe for the Euros or the World Cup, I don't see that it can significantly affect our chances of qualifying. Certainly the notion that it'll be harder to "get to a World Cup ever again" seems to be unfounded. Occasionally, we'll win division 3 like the rest.

[geysir]

Well link away and add to the debate so. The Telegraph article is the only one on the thread.

Maybe you missed it, but earlier I quoted the statement that was being repeated in many media outlets.

Either way, I don't think such a system would mean the end of WC qualification as you put it.

I put it differently, I said "I suspect that would make it even harder for us to get to a WC ever again"