The UEFA Nations League 2024/25 is the fourth edition of the European tournament
Eight teams from League A will advance to the quarter-finals of the competition
Spain are the current holders after coming out on top in 2023
The 2024/25 UEFA Nations League is the fourth edition of the tournament, which was created in 2018. The introduction of the competition was controversial, with many labeling it convoluted and complicated, and others deeming it unnecessary and pointless.
But while it did take a while for fans to get their heads around the format, it is fair to say that UEFA’s invention has been a success.
Fifty-four European nations are taking part in the competition, but only 16 of those sides are in contention for the trophy. Let’s take a look at the leading contenders.
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France won the Nations League in 2021 and they are the favorites to go all the way this season with the best online sportsbooks. Didier Deschamps, appointed in 2012, is still in charge of his country and he has an abundance of riches to call upon, with France continuing to produce an extraordinary amount of talent. Les Bleus face Belgium, Israel and Italy in their group.
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Spain are the Nations League holders and they also triumphed at the most recent edition of the European Championship. Luis de la Fuente is well suited to international soccer, while la Roja now have a good mix between patient possession play and more directness up front. Spain should win a group containing Denmark, Switzerland and Serbia.
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Portugal will do battle with Croatia, Poland, and Scotland over the next couple of months as they seek a place in the quarter-finals. They lifted the first edition of this trophy and will fancy their chances of doing well again this time around, although the Cristiano Ronaldo question continues to loom large over Portugal.
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Germany were only narrowly beaten by Spain at Euro 2024. There is a fresh sense of optimism around the national team under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, who will be keen to get the Mannschaft back to the pinnacle of the game. Germany will face Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Netherlands in their group.
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The Netherlands were semi-finalists at Euro 2024 and they are looking to carry that momentum into the Nations League. Finishing ahead of Germany will be tough but not impossible, although a second-place finish would be enough to advance to the Finals. The Dutch could be potential dark horses.
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Spain were the winners of the 2022/23 UEFA Nations League. They topped their League A group ahead of Portugal, Switzerland, and Czech Republic, before beating Italy and Croatia in the Finals.
All UEFA members (excluding banned Russia) are split into four leagues based on their performance in the previous edition of the Nations League.
Teams ranked one to 16 compete in League A, 17-32 in League B, 33-48 in League C, and 49-54 in League D. Leagues A, B, and C are then divided into four groups containing four teams each. League D is divided into two groups.
Teams play each other side in their group home and away. Those that finish in the top two of groups in League A qualify for the quarter-finals, and the winners of those ties go forward to the Nations League Finals. The sides that finish top of the groups in League B, League C, and League D are promoted to the league above, while those that finish bottom of these groups are relegated to the one below.
There is one exception: in League C, relegation play-offs are held between the four bottom-placed teams to determine the two which are relegated to League D.
The primary reason for the creation of the Nations League was to provide European teams with regular, meaningful matches against opponents of a similar standard.
There is something for everyone in this tournament. League A games involving European heavyweights tend to attract the attention of neutrals, but the Nations League has been valuable for sides in League C and League D too.
For instance, it has given the likes of San Marino and Andorra an opportunity to take on other minnows, which is far more useful than one-sided contests against Germany or France.
The format also provides smaller nations with another potential route into the European Championship and the World Cup, as explained above.
Moreover, players, fans and coaches alike are more engaged by Nations League games than the non-competitive friendlies which clogged up the calendar previously.
Dates: Sep. 5, 2024 - Jun. 8, 2025
Location: Europe
How to Watch: FuboTV, Fox Sports, Vix
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