UEFA Nations League 2020-21

Mr.Nice Guy

Belgium vs England looks like a good game tonight. Two of the best strikers in the world on show.

Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Meunier, Witsel, Tielemans, T. Hazard; Mertens, De Bruyne; Lukaku.

England XI: Pickford; Walker, Dier, Mings; Trippier, Rice, Henderson, Chilwell; Grealish, Mount; Kane.

If Denmark beat Iceland in the other game then England need to win tonight to keep alive their chances of reaching the final 4.

Mr.Nice Guy

Nice goal by Tielemans. Takes a little nick off Mings. I wouldn't fault Pickford for that one.

Great goalline clearance by Lukaku from Kane's header.

2-0 now. Great strike by Mertens from the free-kick. Pickford maybe could have done better for this goal as he left a big target to hit.

Full-time. Belgium win to set up a decider with Denmark on Wednesday. Elsewhere, Austria came from 1-0 down to beat NI 2-1.

Esse85

Grealish was outstanding in the 2nd half, best player on the pitch tonight. Ran the show.

fyfe79

Ha, just seen the 2nd Belgium goal. What a shambles. English player clearly wins the ball, gets kicked by the Belgian player who goes to ground pretending to be injured, and gets awarded the free. Unreal. I thought it was just the PL referee's who were supposed to be poor?

DM_7

Quality goal from Spain. No idea what is going on with Germany in this game though.

https://twitter.com/SkyFootball/status/1328806757259489287?s=20

Mr.Nice Guy

This is the worst German performance I think I've ever seen. 6-0 down now. Wonder when the last time was they lost by this margin.

Edit: Apparently it's their worst defeat since losing to Austria in 1931! Can Jogi Low survive this?

ShamoBuc

No harm, its normally them routing someone. They had a fine team out aswell.

TheadoreT

DM_7 wrote: »

Quality goal form Spain. No idea what is going on with Germany in this game

Managers obsession with not calling up outfield players over 30 has become a bit of a joke. Like Hummels and Boateng an amazing CB partnership that could easily be still at peak for next two major competitions are out in the cold.

Also give me a 31 year old Thomas Muller any day over moody Sane.

Worked out for Low in 2014 as he so happened to have a phenomenal depth of young talent but that same talent is still more talented and committed than the young players now.

dfx-

6-0 flattered Germany there, even with players out. Back around the early 2000s, they had dreadful teams that didn't lose that heavily..

DM_7

I thought it was interesting at the time but Dortmund had two Germans start v Bayern in their last league game (Reus and Hummels). As mentioned, neither would be selected by the national team in the current outlook. Dortmund have young players and it seems a long way from what was happening in Germany in the years leading to their world cup win that they are all playing for other national teams. They had 7 German players at the time of the 2013 Champions League Final.

gormdubhgorm

TheadoreT wrote: »

Managers obsession with not calling up outfield players over 30 has become a bit of a joke. Like Hummels and Boateng an amazing CB partnership that could easily be still at peak for next two major competitions are out in the cold.

Also give me a 31 year old Thomas Muller any day over moody Sane.

Worked out for Low in 2014 as he so happened to have a phenomenal depth of young talent but that same talent is still more talented and committed than the young players now.

On the other side of the coin Spain have had a good clear out. Honestly, I would struggle to name > 4/5 now no internet search. This weeks homework learn the Spain team!

Tchaikovsky

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

This is the worst German performance I think I've ever seen. 6-0 down now. Wonder when the last time was they lost by this margin.

Edit: Apparently it's their worst defeat since losing to Austria in 1931!

Surely it's their worst defeat since 1945?

citytillidie

MATCHDAY 5 & 6 Results
League A
Group 1
Netherlands 3 V 1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Italy 2 V 0 Poland

Bosnia & Herzegovina 0 V 2 Italy
Poland 1 V 2 Netherlands

Group 1 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Italy 6 3 3 0 7 2 5 12
Netherlands 6 3 2 1 7 4 3 11
Poland 6 2 1 3 6 6 0 7
Bosnia 6 0 2 4 3 11 -8 2


Group 2
Belgium 2 V 0 England
Denmark 2 V 1 Iceland

Belgium 4 V 2 Denmark
England 4 V 0 Iceland

Group 2 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Belgium 6 5 0 1 16 6 10 15
Denmark 6 3 1 2 8 7 1 10
England 6 3 1 2 7 4 3 10
Iceland 6 0 0 6 3 17 -14 0


Group 3
Portugal 0 V 1 France
Sweden 2 V 1 Croatia

Croatia 2 V 3 Portugal
France 4 V 2 Sweden

Group 3 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
France 6 5 1 0 12 5 7 16
Portugal 6 4 1 1 12 4 8 13
Croatia 6 1 0 5 9 16 -7 3
Sweden 6 1 0 5 5 13 -8 3


Group 4
Germany 3 V 1 Ukraine
Switzerland 1 V 1 Spain

Spain 6 V 0 Germany
Switzerland V Ukraine - Postponed

Group 4 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Spain 6 3 2 1 13 3 10 11
Germany 6 2 3 1 10 13 -3 9
Ukraine 5 2 0 3 5 10 -5 6
Switzerland 5 0 3 2 6 8 -2 3


League B
Group 1
Austria 2 V 1 Northern Ireland
Romania V Norway - Postponed

Austria 1 V 1 Norway
Northern Ireland 1 V 1 Romania

Group 1 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Austria 6 4 1 1 9 6 3 13
Norway 5 3 1 1 12 4 8 10
Romania 5 1 2 2 5 9 -4 5
Northern Ireland 6 0 2 4 4 11 -7 2


Group 2
Slovakia 1 V 0 Scotland
Czech Republic 1 V 0 Israel

Czech Republic 2 V 0 Slovakia
Israel 1 V 0 Scotland

Group 2 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Czech Republic 6 4 0 2 9 5 4 12
Scotland 6 3 1 2 5 4 1 10
Israel 6 2 2 2 7 7 0 8
Slovakia 6 1 1 4 5 10 -5 4


Group 3
Turkey 3 V 2 Russia
Hungary 1 V 1 Serbia

Hungary 2 V 0 Turkey
Serbia 5 V 0 Russia

Group 3 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Hungary 6 3 2 1 7 4 3 11
Russia 6 2 2 2 9 12 -3 8
Turkey 6 1 3 2 6 8 -2 6
Serbia 6 1 3 2 9 7 2 6


Group 4
Bulgaria 1 V 2 Finland
Wales 1 V 0 Ireland

Ireland 0 V 0 Bulgaria
Wales 3 V 1 Finland

Group 4 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Wales 6 5 1 0 7 1 6 16
Finland 6 4 0 2 7 5 2 12
Ireland 6 0 3 3 1 4 -3 3
Bulgaria 6 0 2 4 2 7 -5 2


League C
Group 1
Azerbaijan 0 V 0 Montenegro
Cyprus 2 V 1 Luxembourg

Luxembourg 0 V 0 Azerbaijan
Montenegro 4 V 0 Cyprus

Group 1 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Montenegro 6 4 1 1 10 2 8 13
Luxembourg 6 3 1 2 7 5 2 10
Azerbaijan 6 1 3 2 2 4 -2 6
Cyprus 6 1 1 4 2 10 -8 4


Group 2
North Macedonia 2 V 1 Estonia
Georgia 1 V 2 Armenia

Armenia 1 V 0 North Macedonia
Georgia 0 V 0 Estonia

Group 2 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Armenia 6 3 2 1 9 6 3 11
North Macedonia 6 2 3 1 9 8 1 9
Georgia 6 1 4 1 6 6 0 7
Estonia 6 0 3 3 5 9 -4 3


Group 3
Moldova 0 V 2 Greece
Slovenia 2 V 1 Kosovo

Greece 0 V 0 Slovenia
Kosovo 1 V 0 Moldova

Group 3 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Slovenia 6 4 2 0 8 1 7 14
Greece 6 3 3 0 6 1 5 12
Kosovo 6 1 2 3 4 6 -2 5
Moldova 6 0 1 5 1 11 -10 1


Group 4
Albania 3 V 1 Kazakhstan
Belarus 2 V 0 Lithuania

Albania 3 V 2 Belarus
Kazakhstan 1 V 2 Lithuania

Group 4 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Albania 6 3 2 1 8 4 4 11
Belarus 6 3 1 2 10 8 2 10
Lithuania 6 2 2 2 5 7 -2 8
Kazakhstan 6 1 1 4 5 9 -4 4


League D
Group 1
Malta 3 V 1 Andorra
Latvia 1 V 1 Faroe Islands

Andorra 0 V 5 Latvia
Malta 1 V 1 Faroe Islands

Group 1 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Faroe Islands 6 3 3 0 9 5 4 12
Malta 6 2 3 1 8 6 2 9
Latvia 6 1 4 1 8 4 4 7
Andorra 6 0 2 4 1 11 -10 2


Group 2
San Marino 0 V 0 Gibraltar

Gibraltar 1 V 1 Liechtenstein

Group 2 Pl W D L F A GD Pts
Gibraltar 4 2 2 0 3 1 2 8
Liechtenstein 4 1 2 1 3 2 1 5
San Marino 4 0 2 2 0 3 -3 2

citytillidie

In the Finals
Italy, Belgium, France and Spain

Relegated from League A
Bosnia & Herzegovina, Iceland, Sweden, Switzerland

Promoted to League A
Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Wales

Relegated from League B
Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Turkey, Bulgaria

Promoted to League B
Montenegro, Armenia, Slovenia, Albania

League C Relegation Play-offs
Moldova V Kazakhstan
Estonia V Cyprus

Promoted to League C
Faroe Islands, Gibraltar

citytillidie

Semi-Finals

Wednesday 6th October - 19:45 

Italy V Spain - Live on Sky Sports Football

Thursday 7th October - 19:45

Belgium V France - Live on Sky Sports Football

Sunday 10th October

14:00 Third Place Play-off - Live on Sky Sports Football

19:45 Final - Live on Sky Sports Football

loyatemu

so who's excited for the return of red-hot Nations League action tonight? On paper a couple of tasty semis, depends how seriously the sides are taking it, but silverware is silverware.

Mr.Nice Guy

Both sides name strong teams. Looking forward to seeing whether Italy can keep their impressive unbeaten run going.

Italy XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Bastoni, Emerson; Barella, Jorginho, Verratti; Chiesa, Bernardeschi, Insigne.

Spain XI: Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, Torres, Alonso; Koke, Busquets, Gavi; Sarabia, Torres, Oyarzabal.

Looks like Alonso at LB. Advantage Italy.

y0ssar1an22

hopefully this'll be a good game. cheering for the Italians

Mr.Nice Guy

Lovely goal from Torres for Spain. Great ball by Oyarzabal. Italy struggling so far.

Nearly 2-0! Howler from Donnarumma.

fyfe79

Bad miss by Insigne there. Great game, this.

y0ssar1an22

what a miss by insigne, italy looking good since the goal (that incident 30 seconds after excepted)

Mr.Nice Guy

Bonucci gets a second yellow. Looks like the run is coming to an end.

Think it's a good call by the ref. He had a cheeky look before leading with the elbow.

y0ssar1an22

bonucci red after 2nd yellow

Mr.Nice Guy

Wow it's all over at half-time. Oyarzabal/Torres connection again.

y0ssar1an22

game over now. 2-0 spain thru ferran torres with his 2nd

fyfe79

Since Man City have no strikers, might they look at signing Spain's center-forward, I wonder?

DJIMI TRARORE

Cracking game, Spain deservedly on top, 1st game in 41 for Italy to concede 2,Bonucci deserved red

Weepsie

Well can't disagree with the Bonucci yellows, Busquets spends another game waving cards around (and he's not the only one on either side) without warning. You can't book Bonucci for his first one and then let ever.

Think the referee has been a bit awful to be honest, sending off aside, but it's made for great entertainment.

Weepsie

Gerry Armstrong's bias towards Spain is quite something to behold.

Mr.Nice Guy

Italy give themselves hope. Spain surely aren't going to blow this lead?

y0ssar1an22

game on!

y0ssar1an22

disappointing set piece from italy to (nearly) wind things up

Mr.Nice Guy

Italy went down fighting in the end but the first half was where they lost it.

jacool

Great game of football. I had never seen Gavi (17, Barcelona) or Pino (18, Villarreal) but they weren't afraid of getting stuck in last night.

Agree that the referee was a disaster, so inconsistent it wasn't funny. Thankfully, it didn't affect the outcome. Insigne's two misses did that.

Bonucci was actually booked for dissent, not for waving an imaginary card. Considering some of the stupid things he's said over the years, the referee was more than likely correct. His second could have been a straight red anyway.

Hope tonight's game matches up. I'd like to see Belgium win something, maybe Lukaku will get them over the line tonight.

Mr.Nice Guy

Teams for tonight's game:

Belgium XI: Courtois; Alderweireld, Denayer, Vertonghen; Castagne, Witsel, Tielemans, Carrasco; De Bruyne, Lukaku, E. Hazard.

France XI: Lloris; Kounde, Varane, L. Hernandez; Pavard, Pogba, Rabiot, T. Hernandez; Griezmann; Benzema, Mbappe.

Two teams are more defensively minded than I was hoping for, and both going with 3 at the back. Has the look of a low scoring, tactical encounter. Would like to see Benzema send France to the final.

Mr.Nice Guy

1-0 Belgium via Carrasco's goal. Not good goalkeeping from Lloris after he made a world class save earlier in the game.

Mr.Nice Guy

What a goal Lukaku! Can't believe Belgium are winning 2-0.

Mr.Nice Guy

Lovely goal by Benzema. Game on. Griezmann should have scored earlier when Mbappe set him up.

Penalty to France now after Tielemans fouls Griezmann.

Mbappe makes amends for his penalty loss in the Euros with an emphatic pen. 2-2. This game a lot more exciting than I thought it would be.

Weepsie

I don't care about contact, that's a dive. He could easily have planted his left leg and mid stride be stops it's and pulls it back to fall over.

Cheating by griezeman, nothing more. He grabbed the other legs too

Mr.Nice Guy

Looked like Lukaku had won it but VAR shows Carrasco offside. This has been a great game.

Pogba hits the woodwork with his free. Unlucky.

Theo Hernandez! He lashes home what surely is the winner. 3-2. Some turnaround.

y0ssar1an22

3-2 to belgium. rom gets his 2nd in the 87th min

ruled out for offside

Weepsie

Jaysus, that can't be for lukaku? He wasn't ahead of the ball

namloc1980

Lukaku offside.

namloc1980

3-2 France now.

Xander10

Some strike

y0ssar1an22

and pogba goes close from a free. off the post/bar

y0ssar1an22

some strike is right!

DJIMI TRARORE

Thinking Hernandez was covering some amount of ground, just realised there's 2 of them playing,

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117990378#Comment_117990378

Two blatant dives by Griezmann within a minute, shocking refereeing to give a penalty. So much for stamping out diving.

Mr.Nice Guy

Nations League has delivered again. Much better than those pedestrian, meaningless friendlies where half the team would be substituted on the hour mark.

Really looking forward to Spain vs France.