UEFA Nations League 2022-23

Dillonb3

Lithuania in atrocious form and have Turkey next

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119190022#Comment_119190022

Im more scratching my head wondering how so many incredibly talented players can be asked to play so stunted.

I think any good will Southgate has will be gone after the World Cup (unless they win obviously)

Bleating Lamb

How did Tammy Abraham fare out for England this evening?

Mr.Nice Guy

Team news:

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Konate, Kimpembe, Digne; Kamara, Guendouzi, Rabiot; Nkunku, Benzema, Mbappe.

Croatia XI: Ivusic; Stanisic, Erlic, Sutalo, Juranovic; Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic; Pasalic, Budimir, Brekalo.

What a front three.

https://twitter.com/OptaJean/status/1536406566840172546

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119190022#Comment_119190022

It's tournament football..more important to not lose and grind out 1-0s etc

Mr.Nice Guy

Early penalty to Croatia.

Modric just about gets it past Maignan.

Schwiiing

Who's doing co commentary on Virgin Media? That accent is deplorable.

Mr.Nice Guy

Modric bossing the game. What a player. Guendouzi not in the game at all. I'd like to see Tchouameni on. Deschamps will be under big pressure if the result stays the same.

y0ssar1an22

what a waste of a free

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119198505#Comment_119198505

Most frees from that spot come to nothing. Absolutely hate how much they get built up when certain players are over the ball. Youde swear it was a penalty.

Mr.Nice Guy

Ends in defeat for France. They won't be retaining the Nations League as they can't catch Denmark now. Attack just not clicking for France despite all their talent. Croatian midfield dominated it. Modric is a marvel to do this at his age.

Agent Coulson

That misfiring French front 3 didn't look that impressive France turning into PSG with way to many egos.

I wonder will France give Mbappe the power to rule the national team.

Esse85

England are 2 down to Hungary.

Southgate with all the talent at his disposal still doesn't know his best 11 and reverts to cautious defensive play every time.

StringerBell

Southgate is a shite manager being a major issue he has, but I would say in fairness to most of the bigger teams here. The player have had long seasons and you can expect a drop in quality for these kind of non important games. Who gives a **** like in all fairness?

Weepsie

What does nick pope need to do to play in a meaningful game for England..he's a better goalkeeper than both Pickford and Ramsdale.

His passing is poorer, but he plays for a team that doesn't lend itself well to a keeper who wants to play quick accurate passing. Hes just better at keeping the ball out of the net and if he played for even say Villa, I think he'd be better regarded.

briany

0-3 to Hungary, now. What's happening in feckin' England?!

Esse85

3 goals down and a player down.

Fringe players would be keen to play and impress, it's a chance for them to show they can perform at international level.

Pointless playing starters like Kane, Rice, Walker, Sterling etc. Southgate knows what they can do.

Brilliant stuff Hungry.

England are a mess

fyfe79

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203653#Comment_119203653

Shocking decision to send Stones off, in fairness. Player literally ran into him from behind and Stones got a 2nd yellow. Terrible refereeing.

Esse85

4 nil loss, absolutely desperate from England. Southgate is under huge pressure.

Fans turned on Southgate. The game is up for him.

y0ssar1an22

just saw the english result. yikes! whats going on there?

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203801#Comment_119203801

They play desperately negative safety first football no matter the opposition

citytillidie

Match Day 4 Results

League A

Group 1

Denmark 2 V 0 Austria

France 0 V 1 Croatia

Group 2

Spain 2 V 0 Czech Republic

Switzerland 1 V 0 Portugal

Group 3

England 0 V 4 Hungary

Germany 5 V 2 Italy

Group 4

Netherlands 3 V 2 Wales

Poland 0 V 1 Belgium

League B

Group 1

Armenia 1 V 4 Scotland

Ukraine 1 V 1 Ireland

Group 2

Iceland 2 V 2 Israel

Group 3

Bosnia and Herzegovina 3 V 2 Finland

Romania 0 V 3 Montenegro

Group 4

Norway 3 V 2 Sweden

Slovenia 2 V 2 Serbia

League C

Group 1

Luxembourg 2 V 2 Faroe Islands

Turkey 2 V 0 Lithuania

Group 2

Northern Ireland 2 V 2 Cyprus

Greece 2 V 0 Kosovo

Group 3

Kazakhstan 2 V 1 Slovakia

Azerbaijan 2 V 0 Belarus

Group 4

Georgia 0 V 0 Bulgaria

North Macedonia 4 V 0 Gibraltar

League D

Group 1

Moldova 2 V 1 Andorra

Liechtenstein 0 V 2 Latvia

Group 2

Malta 1 V 0 San Marino

Mr.Nice Guy

I thought Italy had a bad night. Southgate will do well to survive this. Wasn't too long ago Danny Murphy was saying he should have got the United job:

https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/1533764878476926977

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203811#Comment_119203811

even prior to this, there have been growing clamours for him to be sacked due to the ultra conservative setup.

they couldn't have hoped for 2 better draws in the last 2 tournaments and yet couldn't deliver.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203841#Comment_119203841

But why would they go for an ultra-conservative setup? Were they not just in the final of the Euros last year? I'm not saying England is the best team in Europe by any stretch, but they're usually in the top flight, top seeds etc.

Prisoner6409

The defending for the Ukraine goal was shocking, do the players not use their necks and eyes or even talk to one another, 3 Ukraine players standing all alone 3 feet from the goal.

Headshot

If England had any sense Southgate would be gone in the morning but they did hire him in the first place so logic goes out the window here

AllGunsBlazing

Wow! My brain initially interpreted that scoreline as 4-0 to England.

I wonder if the players have downed tools on Southgate and his ideology.

tanko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203832#Comment_119203832

Danny Murphy talks an incredible amount of bullcrap, wind him up and let him spew.

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203859#Comment_119203859

like 10-15 years ago they have a team of world beaters. but 10-15 years ago the standard of the opposition was a lot higher.

some of the football youtubers i watch just think southgate is wasting this team with his philosophy, like picking saka ahead of grealish cos saka can cover back. england should be able to go out and dominate 95% of teams and with a swagger.

losing to croatia and italy are unforgiveable to a lot of fans when the objectively better team lost due to bad managerial decisions.

briany

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203973#Comment_119203973

Losing to Italy and Croatia wouldn't exactly be scandalous. They're two top sides in the world. Disappointing, yes. Unforgivable? No.

My question is how the England team goes from narrowly losing to Italy in a major final to getting mullered by Hungary 4-0 in less than a year.

Agent Coulson

Poch for England.

No big clubs jobs available get him in for the World Cup.

y0ssar1an22

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204003#Comment_119204003

when you're objectively the better team, it is pretty scandalous. not to mention the semi final vs denmark when the sterling goal should never have stood (that decision still confuses me).

i kinda liken him to ole. bottle it when it matters but you sort of do enough to trundle on till it implodes.

to your question, how does that happen? no idea TBH. possibly players giving up. malaise after a long season i'm sure plays a part.

Weepsie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204036#Comment_119204036

Imagine. An Argintinean winning them a world cup. It would blow the heads of so many

BlazingSaddler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203922#Comment_119203922

Southgate has done a phenomenal job for England, these few games have been very poor but they have come at a bad time for these players, they are knackered and really don’t want to be there. They need a break. This is in contrast to Ireland who have been excellent; momentum builders, the players would play again on Saturday if they had the choice. The England players want to be on holiday. It’s not the right time to give up on Southgate yet, the WC will be his final judgement, the fans won’t accept a loss in Qatar if he plays conservative, if he plays Rice and Phillips with Grealish on the bench and they lose he’s a goner.

Sudden Valley

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204184#Comment_119204184

I think its hard to judge England. They are on the same number points as France are in their group but I would still fancy the French to do well in the world cup. The lack of goals outside of Kane is a real problem for England and none of the fringe players have stood up in the last few matches

pavb2

A lot of talk about Englands players suffering from fatigue but if that’s the case then as a manager logic tells you not to play them. Grealish only played 26 PL games this season including substitutions

BlazingSaddler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119204226#Comment_119204226

Agree with that. I’d imagine only 4 of tonight’s starting team will start in the WC so the confidence shouldn’t be hit too hard. Ramsdale will be wounded after conceding 4, 100% agree on the goals from Kane. I don’t personally think Abraham, DCL or Watkins are international class, maybe if Kane isn’t producing or gets injured they play a false 9 instead? Gallagher, Guehi and Bowen had good seasons but not ready yet.

McFly85

Southgate is an incredibly mediocre manager. Has one of the most talented squads in the world available to him but sets up to not lose instead of to win which will get him through most international games, but almost every time he’s come up against a team of similar quality he has failed. Belgium x2 and Croatia in 2018, Italy in 2021 after a dodgy penalty was needed against Denmark to get to the final.

Now in the nations league, a tournament designed to have you play against your peers(unlike the WC/Euros where he’s gotten some dream runs), it’s no surprise at all that he’s failing.

He might survive this recent run of results but he won’t win anything with them without another dream tournament run.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203610#Comment_119203610

England can afford to not care about the NL in fairness. It's only important to teams like us who need the play off spot.

I do think Southgate is in trouble if they again exit a major tournament in a game they should have won. People will question if he can take them that final step

Fattybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119203801#Comment_119203801

A very poor conservative manager and some vastly over hyped players being found out Kalvin Phillips isn't first cousin of an international level CM he literally can't pass the ball never looks for it Rice another over hyped player again never looks for the ball their style is terrible the CBs just boot it up every time. Grealish is another who has done nothing Saka has done very little an English player has a couple of good games and he's the best thing ever the simple fact is they are not as good as they think they are.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119205154#Comment_119205154

There is a piece about this in the last Guardian Football Weekly. Essentially one of the lads reckons the pragmatic tactics are all about masking the fact that England don't have a single playing midfielder to call up.

Fattybojangles

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119205186#Comment_119205186

Yeah that makes sense to be fair at the highest level you cannot get away with not being able to play the ball through the middle IMO Josh Cullen would walk into their team.

citytillidie

Match Day 5

Wednesday September 21st

League B

Group 1

Scotland V Ukraine - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1 / ITV 4

Thursday September 22nd

League A

Group 1

Croatia V Denmark - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 2

France V Austria - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

Group 4

Belgium V Wales - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1 / S4C

Poland V Netherlands - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

League C

Group 1

Lithuania V Faroe Islands - (19:45)

Turkiye V Luxembourg - (19:45)

Group 3

Kazakhstan V Belarus - (15:00) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Slovakia V Azerbaijan - (19:45)

League D

Group 1

Latvia V Moldova - (17:00) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Liechtenstein V Andorra - (19:45)

Friday September 23rd

League A

Group 3

Germany V Hungary - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Italy V England - (19:45) - Live on Channel 4

League B

Group 3

Bosnia and Herzegovina V Montenegro - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

Finland V Romania - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

League C

Group 4

Georgia V North Macedonia - (17:00) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Bulgaria V Gibraltar - (19:45)

League D

Group 2

Estonia V Malta - (17:00) - Live on Premier Sports 2

Saturday September 24th

League A

Group 2

Czech Republic V Portugal - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

Spain V Switzerland - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

League B

Group 1

Armenia V Ukraine - (14:00) - Live on Box Nation

Scotland V Ireland - (19:45) - Live on RTE 2 / Premier Sports 1

Group 2

Israel V Albania - (19:45)

Group 4

Slovenia V Norway - (17:00)

Serbia V Sweden - (19:45)

League C

Group 2

Northern Ireland V Kosovo - (17:00) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Cyprus V Greece - (19:45)

citytillidie

Match Day 6

Sunday September 25th

League A

Group 1

Austria V Croatia - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

Denmark V France - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

Group 4

Netherlands V Belgium - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 2

Wales V Poland - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1 / S4C

League C

Group 1

Faroe Islands V Turkiye - (19:45)

Luxembourg V Lithuania - (19:45)

Group 3

Azerbaijan V Kazakhstan - (17:00) - Live on Box Nation

Slovakia V Belarus - (17:00) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

League D

Group 1

Andorra V Latvia - (14:00) - Live on Box Nation

Moldova V Liechtenstein - (14:00) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

Monday September 26th

League A

Group 3

England V Germany - (19:45) - Live on Channel 4

Hungary V Italy - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1

League B

Group 3

Montenegro V Finland - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

Romania V Bosnia and Herzegovina - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports Extra

League C

Group 4

Gibraltar V Georgia - (19:45)

North Macedonia V Bulgaria - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 2

League D

Group 2

San Marino V Estonia - (19:45)

Tuesday September 27th

League A

Group 2

Portugal V Spain - (19:45) - Live on Box Nation

Switzerland V Czech Republic - (19:45)

League B

Group 1

Ireland V Armenia - (19:45) - Live on RTE 2 / Premier Sports Extra

Ukraine V Scotland - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 1

Group 2

Albania V Iceland - (19:45)

Group 4

Norway V Serbia - (19:45)

Sweden V Slovenia - (19:45)

League C

Group 2

Greece V Northern Ireland - (19:45) - Live on Premier Sports 2

Kosovo V Cyprus - (19:45)

trashcan

I think Ukraine will win this. Scots have had a good bit of the play, but Ukraine look more likely to score.

sligeach

I think Scotland are lucky that goal stands. Referee was going to blow, but didn't. And VAR, well you never know with them, they didn't overturn it. Looked like a foul to me. They deserve the lead though.

sligeach

No doubt about the second goal. Nice headed finish into the bottom corner.