UEFA Nations League

Rekop dog

I highly doubt all twelve league A will qualify automatically. Likes of Holland, Wales and Romania were all top seeds in World Cup qualifiers and failed to make top 2 in their groups. There will be an upset or two.

Iceland have been great but wouldn't have huge faith in them being a long term fixture at business end of qualifying.

Jayop

Rekop dog wrote: »

I highly doubt all twelve league A will qualify automatically. Likes of Holland, Wales and Romania were all top seeds in World Cup qualifiers and failed to make top 2 in their groups. There will be an upset or two.

Iceland have been great but wouldn't have huge faith in them being a long term fixture at business end of qualifying.

I suppose but I think the nature of the groups next time will really help the teams in pot 1 and 2. 10 small groups of 5 or 6 teams. There's very little in pot 3/4/5/6 that will concern Holland, Wales or Romania. Possibly Iceland in fairness, I hadn't noticed them in there.

Ferris_Bueller

Slightly confusing but I think it sounds like a great system, it makes almost every game in international football important and less friendlies is a good thing in my book. It should make the rankings more accurate also as teams will mainly be playing teams of their own level outside of qualifying campaigns. I don't buy into the whole a team could get relegated down the leagues and have a better chance of qualifying.. It would mean deliberately losing games for a couple of years in a row and would make it more difficult in the actual qualifying campaigns. It will work well for the Euros, not sure what will happen in a world cup year?

Major pluses are less friendlies, a truer ranking system, much better for lower ranked teams and essentially a back door route into a Euros, which can only be good for Ireland. Only negative I can see is that it won't give us much time to plan going to a tournament if we only qualify in March!

Kenjataimu

I'm a bit confused :pac:

Does it mean if a top nation in Group A messes up Euro qualification, they'll most likely be guaranteed to have another chance to qualify as the rest of Group A would have already qualified?

The Cush

Kenjataimu wrote: »

Does this mean if a top nation in Group A messes up Euro qualification, they'll most likely be guaranteed to have another chance to qualify as the rest of Group A would have already qualified?

They could provided the finish top of one of the 4 groups or further down if a higher placed team has already qualified.

Jayop

The Cush wrote: »

They could provided the finish top of one of the 4 groups or further down if a higher placed team has already qualified.

Say Iceland fail to qualify in the normal way and also finish last in their group of 3 in this thing, but every other team in League A qualify the old school way. What happens then? Do they just take the place reserved to League A or do they have to play against teams from League B to take that spot?

Stevecw

This sounds both interesting and a bit confusing!
Even the groups are a bit weird, Serbia in C, and Holland in A.
Right now I know which one i'd rather play.

The Cush

Jayop wrote: »

Say Iceland fail to qualify in the normal way and also finish last in their group of 3 in this thing, but every other team in League A qualify the old school way. What happens then? Do they just take the place reserved to League A or do they have to play against teams from League B to take that spot?

I believe they are joined by the next 3 teams from Group B not already in the play-offs in Group B.

Jayop

The Cush wrote: »

I believe they are joined by the next 3 teams from Group B not already in the play-offs in Group B.

Harsh on the top 3 teams from Group B getting pooled in with a top team in Group A for 1 place. Surely it would be better using the 5th, 6th, 7th placed teams in Group B not qualified and allow the top 4 teams in Group B not qualified to compete against each other for their own place. If there's not 3 other teams in group B then take the teams from group C that are not the top 4 finishers.

S.M.B.

Jayop wrote: »

Harsh on the top 3 teams from Group B getting pooled in with a top team in Group A for 1 place. Surely it would be better using the 5th, 6th, 7th placed teams in Group B not qualified and allow the top 4 teams in Group B not qualified to compete against each other for their own place. If there's not 3 other teams in group B then take the teams from group C that are not the top 4 finishers.

Is that not exactly what was said?

Or am I now misinterpreting something.

It does seem a lot more complicated than I originally thought as I thought there was just one playoff place for group D only

The Cush

Jayop wrote: »

Harsh on the top 3 teams from Group B getting pooled in with a top team in Group A for 1 place. Surely it would be better using the 5th, 6th, 7th placed teams in Group B not qualified and allow the top 4 teams in Group B not qualified to compete against each other for their own place. If there's not 3 other teams in group B then take the teams from group C that are not the top 4 finishers.

You misread my post.

The Cush wrote: »

I believe they are joined by the next 3 teams from Group B not already in the play-offs in Group B.

Jayop

S.M.B. wrote: »

Is that not exactly what was said?

Or am I now misinterpreting something.

It does seem a lot more complicated than I originally thought as I thought there was just one playoff place for group D only

Ya, I think I read the original post completely arse about foot.

Jayop

The Cush wrote: »

You misread my post.

Yep, sorry about that.

citytillidie

Right this is an example you could have

League A
Group 1
Germany
France
Poland

Group 2
Portugal
England
Iceland

Group 3
Belgium
Switzerland
Croatia

Group 4
Spain
Italy
Netherlands

League B
Group 1
Austria
Sweden
Northern Ireland

Group 2
Wales
Ukraine
Denmark

Group 3
Russia
Ireland
Czech Republic

Group 4
Slovakia
Bosnia
Turkey

League C
Group 1
Hungary
Greece
Montenegro
Cyrus

Group 2
Romania
Serbia
Israel
Estonia

Group 3
Scotland
Albania
Bulgaria
Lithuania

Group 4
Slovenia
Norway
Finland

League D
Group 1
Azerbaijan
Latvia
Kazakhstan
Andorra

Group 2
Macedonia
Armenia
Moldova
Kosovo

Group 3
Belarus
Faroe Islands
Liechtenstein
San Marino

Group 4
Georgia
Luxemburg
Malta
Gibraltar

citytillidie

Germany, Portugal, Belgium and Spain would be placed as seeds for the 1st 4 groups with 5 teams so they can play in the finals.

Normal Qualifying Groups
Group A
Germany - Q
Croatia
Northern Ireland - Q
Albania
Macedonia

Group B
Portugal
Netherlands - Q
Denmark - Q
Norway
Belarus

Group C
Belgium - Q
Austria
Czech Republic - Q
Montenegro
Georgia

Group D
Spain - Q
Wales - Q
Turkey
Israel
Armenia

Group E
France - Q
Russia
Hungary
Bulgaria - Q
Latvia

Group F
England - Q
Slovakia
Romania - Q
Finland
Faroe Islands
Malta

Group G
Switzerland
Sweden - Q
Scotland - Q
Cyprus
Luxembourg
Andorra

Group H
Italy - Q
Ukraine
Slovenia - Q
Estonia
Kazakhstan
Kosovo

Group I
Poland - Q
Ireland - Q
Greece
Lithuania
Moldova
San Marino

Group J
Iceland
Bosina - Q
Serbia - Q
Azerbaijan
Liechtenstein
Gibraltar

That then would leave the play off like this

League A
Portugal
Iceland
Switzerland
Croatia

League B
Austria
Ukraine
Russia
Slovakia

League C
Hungary
Israel
Albania
Norway

League D
Azerbaijan
Macedonia
Belarus
Georgia

Jayop

Would be brilliant for some of the minnows to have a chance to get in to a major tournament. At the Euro's with 24 nations it really shouldn't be at our expense.

Third_Echelon

It just seems overly complicated... a solution to a problem that didn't exist?!

Jayop

Third_Echelon wrote: »

It just seems overly complicated... a solution to a problem that didn't exist?!

International football is by and large garbage. The only part that's exciting is the tournaments. The qualifiers are even boring as hell until the last few games when you know exactly what needs to be done to guarantee progression. Friendlies are the absolute worst though. I don't know a single person that enjoys them, and now with something like this I guess a little more will be on those games and maybe they may be worth watching. You're also I assume not going to have carte blance to make 11 subs which I always hate.

So I guess the problems it's trying to solve are...

1) Make the friendly dates more exciting and thus more marketable
2) Allow at least 1 minnow, maybe 2 entry to major tournaments which imo is a good thing.

I'm not old enough to properly remember Euro 88, but I can only assume it would be amazing for some of those smaller teams to have that feeling for the first time.

Third_Echelon

Jayop wrote: »

International football is by and large garbage. The only part that's exciting is the tournaments. The qualifiers are even boring as hell until the last few games when you know exactly what needs to be done to guarantee progression. Friendlies are the absolute worst though. I don't know a single person that enjoys them, and now with something like this I guess a little more will be on those games and maybe they may be worth watching. You're also I assume not going to have carte blance to make 11 subs which I always hate.

So I guess the problems it's trying to solve are...

1) Make the friendly dates more exciting and thus more marketable
2) Allow at least 1 minnow, maybe 2 entry to major tournaments which imo is a good thing.

I'm not old enough to properly remember Euro 88, but I can only assume it would be amazing for some of those smaller teams to have that feeling for the first time.

Seems like a lot of effort to solve boring friendlies. When we do have a friendly it's usually tagged onto an international week where there is also a competitive fixture. I would be afraid that younger players mightn't get a chance at a run-out if every fixture 'matters'. Friendlies have a place I think.

Minnows getting more tournament access is a good thing I think too. Should be a better way of doing it though. Not easy...

Minderbinder

Jayop wrote: »

Third_Echelon wrote: »

It just seems overly complicated... a solution to a problem that didn't exist?!

International football is by and large garbage. The only part that's exciting is the tournaments. The qualifiers are even boring as hell until the last few games when you know exactly what needs to be done to guarantee progression. Friendlies are the absolute worst though. I don't know a single person that enjoys them, and now with something like this I guess a little more will be on those games and maybe they may be worth watching. You're also I assume not going to have carte blance to make 11 subs which I always hate.

So I guess the problems it's trying to solve are...

1) Make the friendly dates more exciting and thus more marketable
2) Allow at least 1 minnow, maybe 2 entry to major tournaments which imo is a good thing.

I'm not old enough to properly remember Euro 88, but I can only assume it would be amazing for some of those smaller teams to have that feeling for the first time.

Agree with you there. Just watching Panama qualifying for the World Cup was brilliant. They went absolutely bat s**t crazy. That’s what you want to see. You don’t want to see a Greece or Slovakia limping into the tournament when we all know they’ll do SFA when they get there.

After all our encounters with Georgia over the years, I’d be delighted to see them qualify for a tournament. Don’t think they’d look to out of place either.

Jayop

Aye just look at what Iceland brought two years ago. Remember Jamaica in the world cup for the first time. Some of the African nations back in the day. Ireland in 88 and for me in 90. Awesome scenes and memories.

iDave

It may of already been answered but if you finish 3rd in the traditional qualifying group that wont offer a playoff place?
Playoffs can only been reached via Nations League?

Rekop dog

Minderbinder wrote: »

Agree with you there. Just watching Panama qualifying for the World Cup was brilliant. They went absolutely bat s**t crazy. That’s what you want to see. You don’t want to see a Greece or Slovakia limping into the tournament when we all know they’ll do SFA when they get there.

After all our encounters with Georgia over the years, I’d be delighted to see them qualify for a tournament. Don’t think they’d look to out of place either.

You really could have choose a better example than Greece lol!

And for me there's a big difference between an underdog such as Iceland or Panama qualifying through a fair route against the best sides in their confederation as opposed to a Georgia qualifying against other rubbish sides, it's nowhere near as big an achievement. It's almost patronising.

citytillidie

iDave wrote: »

It may of already been answered but if you finish 3rd in the traditional qualifying group that wont offer a playoff place?
Playoffs can only been reached via Nations League?

Yea, there is 20 places for the normal route 10 winners and 10 runners up.

final 4 places will be decided via play offs from the Nations League.

This is for 2020 Euros, we don't know how things will work when there are only 13 places or 2022 World Cup or 16 places for World Cups after that.

Heck when it comes to the Euro 2024 when there is a host country again we will not know how it works then either

iDave

citytillidie wrote: »

iDave wrote: »

It may of already been answered but if you finish 3rd in the traditional qualifying group that wont offer a playoff place?
Playoffs can only been reached via Nations League?

Yea, there is 20 places for the normal route 10 winners and 10 runners up.

final 4 places will be decided via play offs from the Nations League.

This is for 2020 Euros, we don't know how things will work when there are only 13 places or 2022 World Cup or 16 places for World Cups after that.

Heck when it comes to the Euro 2024 when there is a host country again we will not know how it works then either

Ok think I'm finally getting my head around it.
The playoffs will be a one off match instead of traditional two legged and then another one off match against other playoff winner?
Doubt this will ever have any bearing on WC. 
For E24 I'd say hosts wont take part in the group as is tradition and their Nations League ranking will be ignored and playoff places offered to next highest team.

citytillidie

iDave wrote: »

Ok think I'm finally getting my head around it.
The playoffs will be a one off match instead of traditional two legged and then another one off match against other playoff winner?
Doubt this will ever have any bearing on WC. 
For E24 I'd say hosts wont take part in the group as is tradition and their Nations League ranking will be ignored and playoff places offered to next highest team.

Yea the semi finals the team with the better record will host a one of game.

A draw will be made then to see which team is home for the final from those two winners for each league

bren2001

citytillidie wrote: »

Yea the semi finals the team with the better record will host a one of game.

A draw will be made then to see which team is home for the final from those two winners for each league

Why isnt it at a neutral venue? Madness.

Chivito550

Jayop wrote: »

Aye just look at what Iceland brought two years ago. Remember Jamaica in the world cup for the first time. Some of the African nations back in the day. Ireland in 88 and for me in 90. Awesome scenes and memories.

Iceland have qualified on merit for 2016 and 2018, as did we back in 88 and 90. Georgia won't have done likewise if they only have to beat the likes of Azerbaijan to be guaranteed a place in Euro 2020.

Jayop

Chivito550 wrote: »

Iceland have qualified on merit for 2016 and 2018, as did we back in 88 and 90. Georgia won't have done likewise if they only have to beat the likes of Azerbaijan to be guaranteed a place in Euro 2020.

And the alternative is to allow 4 teams who finished 3rd, possibly in a 5 team group to qualify? How is that really of any more merit??

S.M.B.

bren2001 wrote: »

Why isnt it at a neutral venue? Madness.

They are still just an extension of the current 'friendly' game format which 99% of times are hosted by one of the participating teams.

I'm wondering could the home team ask to host in elsewhere? It's not likely to be a request any team would make as they would be giving up an advantage in a game that guarantees qualification to a major tournament.

bren2001

S.M.B. wrote: »

They are still just an extension of the current 'friendly' game format which 99% of times are hosted by one of the participating teams.

I'm wondering could the home team ask to host in elsewhere? It's not likely to be a request any team would make as they would be giving up an advantage in a game that guarantees qualification to a major tournament.

They are worlds apart from a friendly game though. You win a place at a tournament at the end, seems highly unfair to have to travel to the opposition for it.

S.M.B.

I meant from an administrative perspective.

There is obviously a bit more at stake in a playoff game but they are clearly trying to avoid the additional organisation/logistical overheads of playing 12 games at a a multitude of neutral venues.

I wonder do away goals count though?

The Cush

http://esportes.estadao.com.br/noticias/futebol,selecoes-estudam-criar-liga-mundial-para-substituir-amistosos,70002063196

Reports from Brazil that FIFA are considering proposals to introduce a new competition called the World League to replace international friendlies.

At the fringes of a FIFA meeting in India last week the president of the regional confederations met to discuss the new tournament. The proposal is part of a overall review of international men's and women's completions to make them more attractive to a wider audience, the review will be completed by March of next year.

With the introduction of the UEFA Nations League teams from other confederations, such as Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, have been upset with the potential loss of lucrative friendlies with European teams (http://remezcla.com/sports/fifa-world-league-uefa/).

Early proposals reported for the competition include
- to be introduced in 2019
- 3 divisions based on FIFA rankings
- to be played over 1 year

VillaMad

The pots for the inaugural UEFA Nations League have been confirmed:

League A
Pot 1: Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain
Pot 2: France, England, Switzerland, Italy
Pot 3: Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands

League B
Pot 1: Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia
Pot 2: Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Pot 3: Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey

League C
Pot 1: Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia
Pot 2: Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway
Pot 3: Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland
Pot 4: Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania

League D
Pot 1: Azerbaijan, FYR Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia
Pot 2: Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg
Pot 3: Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta
Pot 4: Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar

The draw will be made in Lausanne (Switzerland) on the 24th January 2018.

HalloweenJack

NI and Wales would be a decent enough group.

The Cush

UEFA Nations League draw takes place this Wed morning at 11:00 (Irish time).

Live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports News, none of the terrestrial channels carrying the draw.

It will be streamed live on UEFA.com

https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/index.html#/iv/article/2529920

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

Russia
ROI
Turkey

:eek:

LuckyLloyd

Well, that's a sucky draw.

PhilipsR

The draw isn't for another day...

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Well, that's a sucky draw.

Soz big man, it was just a potential scenario I was highlighting.

LuckyLloyd

Rosa Faint Gray wrote: »

Soz big man, it was just a potential scenario I was highlighting.

Here was me thinking that we'd been shafted

Ferris_Bueller

In terms of ability I'd say Russia are the only ones you would really want to avoid, wouldn't fancy playing away to Turkey or going back to Denmark again so soon. Slovakia and Czech Republic would be the draw I would like.

Rekop dog

We could finish bottom of our group and still very likely make a playoff so doesn't matter all too much who we draw.

The Cush

Nations League press kit for today's draw

https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/competitions/General/02/53/08/77/2530877_DOWNLOAD.pdf

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

anyone got a scooby what's going on?

citytillidie

Rosa Faint Gray wrote: »

anyone got a scooby what's going on?

Easy to follow tough group for Scotland

ArmaniJeanss

Rekop dog wrote: »

We could finish bottom of our group and still very likely make a playoff so doesn't matter all too much who we draw.

I'd have thought it'd be nice to get a winnable group and get promotion to Tier 1. (And then win that next time).

Seems better than just seeing it as the backdoor route to the Euros every 4 years.

bren2001

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

I'd have thought it'd be nice to get a winnable group and get promotion to Tier 1. (And then win that next time).

Seems better than just seeing it as the backdoor route to the Euros every 4 years.

It would also give us second seeds for the Euro qualifying group and ensure the same (or better) for the World Cup 2022 draw.

loyatemu

what are the chances of Wales and Denmark again?

citytillidie

Chance to get revenge on the World Cup play offs