2020-21 UEFA Nations League

[DeLorean]

So, we've avoided relegation and it's an all round better format really - https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news...d=2625412.html

UEFA Nations League

The UEFA Nations League will have a new league structure comprising 16 teams in Leagues A, B and C and 7 teams in League D, as of the 2020/21 edition. The teams are allocated to leagues based on the overall ranking following the 2018/19 inaugural UEFA Nations League.

This change to the format follows a consultation process which involved all of UEFA's 55 national associations and reflects upon their desire to further minimise the number of friendly matches.

In addition, it enhances sporting fairness as all teams in the same group will play their last match on the same day and at the same time.

The successful concept of the Finals remains untouched, with the four group winners of League A playing each other to determine the UEFA Nations League winners.

The committee furthermore confirmed that the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League draw will take place in Amsterdam on 3 March 2020, same day and same place as the UEFA Congress 2020.

Wikipedia Page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020%E...ague_B#Group_4

[Fixer82]

Still don’t fully get it

[zero]

Is my understanding correct in that we will get one each of the other 3 sections above i.e. one of russia, austria wales and czech rep (top seeds in the group) and so on? There will be more games in total so I gather this means home and away legs in a 4 team group.

Some potentially interesting away days...

[Fixer82]

Does this allow a team from the lowest league play in euros?

[pineapple stu]

A different thread, but an interesting throw-away line at the bottom of that link -

The Executive Committee will recommend its 55 national associations and all European clubs not to play matches in countries where women have restricted access to stadiums.

They're rare enough games, but I think there's occasional random friendlies in Saudi Arabia, and of course we played Iran in 2001.

Whether the recommendation is followed through on is another matter of course. But I think it's a positive move.

[Olé Olé]

Still don’t fully get it

Nor do I. But I don't feel too bad as UEFA clearly don't get it yet either.

[IsMiseSean]

I'm not really sure what is going on - but groups of 4 are better than the groups of 3 in the previous NL.

Unfortunately it probably lowers our chances of playing long time rivals Oman any time soon though.

[Kyle_Katarn]

Does this allow a team from the lowest league play in euros?

I would imagine group D will give up its play off spot for the host qualifier, for example Germany in 2024. Probably the fairest thing to do

[sidewayspasser]

To me, this restructuring looks like an attempt to fix the "problem" that Germany got relegated to League B.

[Kyle_Katarn]

To me, this restructuring looks like an attempt to fix the "problem" that Germany got relegated to League B.

I think most teams would be happier with 4 team groups and over all it actually even outs the groups. I don't think Germany being in League B for probably one season would really make too much of a difference to the competition, if anything it would be better for them as they would have a better chance of getting a play off if they go through a rough qualifying campaign.

[NeverFeltBetter]

A different thread, but an interesting throw-away line at the bottom of that link -


They're rare enough games, but I think there's occasional random friendlies in Saudi Arabia, and of course we played Iran in 2001.

Whether the recommendation is followed through on is another matter of course. But I think it's a positive move.

I don't know if they are allowed into stadiums, but will UEFA extend their stance to the woman of Qatar?

[pineapple stu]

The draw for this is on Tuesday week at 5pm.

We were saved from relegation because UEFA expanded the top tiers - some say to stop Germany being relegated, but it means 4-team groups, which makes far more sense than 3-team groups.

We're third seeds, so could have a group as tough as Wales, Serbia, Ireland, Romania, or as easy as Czech Republic, Finland, Ireland, Bulgaria. Though realistically, the nature of it is that all the groups will end up being roughly the same strength.

Group D is down to 7 teams as a result of the restructure, but there's no safety net this time as it's a World Cup campaign, not a Euro campaign.

Wiki article here. The 6 games will be between Sept and Nov 2020.

[IsMiseSean]

At least we can't be drawn with Georgia or Denmark again.

[DeLorean]

Already a thread on this - https://foot.ie/threads/249068-2020-...nations+league

[tetsujin1979]

Draw this evening on Virgin Media Sport in Ireland at 5. Only scheduled for an hour, so hopefully it gets straight into the draw

Details on uefa.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleag...ue-phase-draw/

League B
Pot 1: Russia, Austria, Wales, Czech Republic
Pot 2: Scotland, Norway, Serbia, Finland
Pot 3: Slovakia, Turkey, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland
Pot 4: Bulgaria, Israel, Hungary, Romania

Really don't want Russia or Austria in Pot 1. Not that Wales or Czech Republic are that much better
Wouldn't fancy Serbia from the second pot
Not much between the teams in pot 4.

[SkStu]

Id probably take

Czech (a strong squad and a decent record recently but still probably the easiest of a difficult 4 choices plus we've seen too much of Wales recently)
Scotland (add some regional spice and not really very good)
Republic Of Ireland
Bulgaria (they've had a few poor qualifying campaigns recently, no major names really and looked uninspiring in our recent friendly)

[elatedscum]

1) Czech Republic (avoid Russia)
2) Finland (avoid Serbia)
4) Bulgaria (avoid Romania maybe)

[tetsujin1979]

Draw about to start
Live stream on uefa.com: https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/draws/

[Diggs246]

Pot 2 is key avoid Serbia at all costs

[Real ale Madrid]

Wales, Finland & Bulgaria