Nations League draw

[Malaga]

Pot 1: Portugal, Spain, France, Germany
Pot 2: Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Croatia
Pot 3: Serbia, Belgium, England, Norway
Pot 4: Wales, Czechia, Greece, Türkiye

Takes place tomorrow
Nailed on for Belgium, obviously

 

[Cooperman]

Other than the replacement of international friendlies, I have no idea these days what this means.

 

[exiledclaseboy]

it’s a competitive tournament which pits teams of similar abilities against each other, has done away with meaningless friendlies and mismatches and provides an alternative route to qualification for the World Cup and Euros for teams who are successful. It’s been a massive success and one of the best innovations in international football for decades. No wonder other confederations and indeed other sports are now emulating it and putting their own versions in.

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

it’s a competitive tournament which pits teams of similar abilities against each other, has done away with meaningless friendlies and mismatches and provides an alternative route to qualification for the World Cup and Euros for teams who are successful. It’s been a massive success and one of the best innovations in international football for decades. No wonder other confederations and indeed other sports are now emulating it and putting their own versions in.

But apart from that...

 

[Cooperman]

it’s a competitive tournament which pits teams of similar abilities against each other, has done away with meaningless friendlies and mismatches and provides an alternative route to qualification for the World Cup and Euros for teams who are successful. It’s been a massive success and one of the best innovations in international football for decades. No wonder other confederations and indeed other sports are now emulating it and putting their own versions in.

I agree. Having something to play for in almost every game is a far better appeal than half hearted friendlies. It’s the routing parts that I need to read up on.

 

[Malaga]

Wales won their group in league B, hence go into pot 4 for league A

 

[monmouth]

it’s a competitive tournament which pits teams of similar abilities against each other, has done away with meaningless friendlies and mismatches and provides an alternative route to qualification for the World Cup and Euros for teams who are successful. It’s been a massive success and one of the best innovations in international football for decades. No wonder other confederations and indeed other sports are now emulating it and putting their own versions in.

Thank you Chatgpt

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

I agree. Having something to play for in almost every game is a far better appeal than half hearted friendlies. It’s the routing parts that I need to read up on.

This cycle will have very little impact (for us) on the 2028 Euros as we're pretty much nailed on to qualify automatically as a host.

Obviously staying up (4th is relegated and 3rd has a playoff to stay up in March 2027) would benefit in term of playing better teams and aid our ranking for qualifying groups moving forward.

4 games in 12/13 days at the end of Sept/start of Oct will be tough against that quality of opposition though, especially as most other sides will be able to rotate with more strength in depth.

 

[J_B]

Wouldn’t we be better off for ranking by playing at a lower level and getting some wins rather than losses against the giants?

 

[Frankie Burrows Cap]

Wouldn’t we be better off for ranking by playing at a lower level and getting some wins rather than losses against the giants?

Doubtful. If you stay in League A you’re pretty much guaranteed to be in pot 1 for the Euro and World Cup qualifiers.

Although there’s talk of the qualification process being altered from 2030 so who knows by then!

 

[Malaga]

Wouldn’t we be better off for ranking by playing at a lower level and getting some wins rather than losses against the giants?

That's why we're in league A we got the wins to top the group in league B last time round