Nations League: England, Wales and France in danger of relegation, Scotland chasing promotion | Football News

The current international break will see the culmination of the Nations League group stages, meaning promotions, relegations and progression to next summer’s finals will all be secured over the next week.

The action began on Wednesday when Scotland beat Ukraine at Hampden Park, with matches then taking place every night until Tuesday.

Some of the continent’s biggest sides, including England and France, are close to dropping out of the top league, while Wales – defeated by Belgium on Thursday – Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are also in danger of relegation.

Scotland have enjoyed a more productive campaign and are in contention for promotion to the top tier, while Denmark and the Netherlands are within touching distance of claiming their places in the final four.

But with three months having passed since the most recent Nations League fixtures, here’s a reminder of the league tables, the games still to be played and what’s at stake over the next seven days.

How does the Nations League work?

Europe’s sides have been divided into four leagues, with A, B and C containing 16 teams and D containing seven. Leagues A, B and C have then been split into four groups of four, while League D has one group of four and one of three.

Teams grouped together are playing each other home and away. The group winners in Leagues B, C and D will be promoted to the next league up, while the teams finishing bottom of their groups in Leagues A, B and C will be relegated to the lower division.

There is no relegation from League D, while the four group winners in League A will progress to the finals, which will be held next summer.

What else is at stake?

Performance in the Nations League will also be used to determine seeding for Euro 2024 qualifying, with the draw taking place on October 9 and matches being held between March and November 2023.

Teams that fail to reach Euro 2024 through qualifying can still reach the tournament via the play-offs, which are decided by Nations League placings.

The teams that finish highest in their groups – and do not qualify for Euro 2024 at the first attempt – in Leagues A, B and C will be entered into the play-offs, which take place in March 2024.

Each league will have four teams in its play-off section, with semi-finals and finals being played to determine which sides – one from each of Leagues A, B and C – secure a place at Euro 2024.

The current state of play

The final two matchdays will take place during the current international break but, despite the end of the group stage being near, only one team has secured promotion, while none of the relegation places have been decided.

League A

Group A1

France are the reigning Nations League champions but have already blown their chances of retaining their title after picking up just two points from their first four fixtures. They finally landed a win on Matchday 5, beating Austria 2-0 to leapfrog them and move off bottom spot in Group A1.

Instead, Croatia are leading the race for top spot and a place in next summer’s final after beating previous table-toppers Denmark thanks to a late Lovro Majer winner in an engrossing battle between the sides on Thursday.

Croatia go to Austria on Sunday hoping to book their place in the finals, while Denmark host France. Who finishes top and bottom is still far from certain.

Group A2

Everything is still very much to play for in Group A2, with the only certainty being that Spain cannot be relegated to League B.

Luis Enrique’s side – who finished as runners-up in the previous Nations League – are currently top of the table and will ensure they remain there if they beat bottom-placed Switzerland in Zaragoza on Saturday and then avoid defeat to Portugal on Tuesday.

Portugal are Spain’s nearest challengers, meaning next week’s fixture between the sides in Braga could determine who qualifies for next summer’s finals.

Czech Republic can theoretically still finish top but a battle to finish above Switzerland and avoid relegation seems more likely. The meeting between the two teams in St Gallen on Tuesday is likely to be key.

Group A3

When A3 was drawn, Hungary quickly appeared to be the favourites to finish bottom of this highly-competitive group, but Marco Rossi’s side have collected seven points from their first four games and currently sit top of the table.

Hungary’s most recent fixture saw them pull off a shock 4-0 win over England at Wembley in June. Their game against Germany in Leipzig on Friday will be crucial, with the winners knowing another victory on the final matchday on Monday will guarantee them a spot in the finals.

Italy are just two points behind Hungary and face them in Budapest next week, meaning the European champions are very much still in contention in Group A3.

The only team that cannot reach the finals are England, who are winless and face a tough task to avoid the ignominy of relegation to League B for the first time.

Defeat to Italy on Friday will confirm relegation for Gareth Southgate’s team, who realistically must win in Milan and at home to Germany on Monday if they want to stay up.

Group A4

The Netherlands and Belgium are in a two-way fight for top spot in Group A4, with Netherlands now aiming to defend their three-point advantage in the decider between the teams on Sunday in Amsterdam.

Belgium beat bottom-side Wales 2-1 on Thursday to put Rob Page’s side in even greater danger of dropping down to League B, but the Netherlands’ 2-0 win over Poland means Wales can still survive with victory over Poland in Cardiff on Sunday.

League B

Group B1

The challenge to finish top in Group B1 is still wide open thanks to Scotland and Ukraine. Steve Clarke’s side are currently two points clear after their 3-0 win against the Ukrainians on Wednesday.

The pair face each other again in Krakow on Tuesday – designated as Ukraine’s home match – which could decide which of Ukraine or Scotland are promoted to League A with both playing another game in between.

The Republic of Ireland can still finish top but, given they are three points behind Ukraine and have played a game more, finishing above bottom-placed Armenia and avoiding the drop into League C is their most pressing issue.

Stephen Kenny’s side host Armenia in Dublin on Tuesday, with a win being enough to guarantee safety.

Group B2

Only two fixtures still need to be played in B2 due to Russia’s disqualification after their invasion of Ukraine but all three remaining sides can still finish top of the group.

Israel will guarantee promotion to League A if they beat Albania on Saturday. However, a win for Albania in Tel Aviv means the winner of their clash with Iceland on Tuesday will go up at the expense of Israel.

If Israel and Albania draw, then Albania will be unable to finish top, but Iceland will do so if they win and score more than once away to Albania.

Russia’s ban means they will automatically be relegated to League C.

Group B3

Bosnia and Herzegovina are well positioned for promotion to League A and will secure that achievement if they beat Montenegro at home on Friday.

However, a win for Montenegro means they will be able to finish top if they follow that up with a victory at home to Finland on Monday.

Finland can also claim top spot but must take three points at home to Romania and away to Montenegro, while hoping Bosnia and Herzegovina fail to win both their matches, if they are to do so.

Romania are currently bottom of Group B3 and will be relegated if they lose in Finland – who are a point ahead of them – on Friday. A draw or a Romania win means the battle to avoid the drop will go down to the final matchday.

Group B4

Promotion from Group B4 to League A is a two-horse race between Norway and Serbia, with the former holding a three-point advantage with two matches to go.

If Norway claim four points from their final two games – the second of which is at home to Serbia on Tuesday – then they will secure top spot. But a defeat for Norway in Slovenia on Saturday, coupled with a Serbia win at home to Sweden, means promotion will go to the victor of the match between the top two sides in Oslo.

Relegation may also be decided on the final matchday, when bottom side Slovenia travel to Sweden, who sit one place and one point above their visitors. However, Sweden will guarantee survival if they win both of their remaining matches.

League C

Group C1

Turkey confirmed their promotion to League B with a draw against Luxembourg on Thursday – but it was far from straightforward for the group leaders, who needed an 87th-minute strike to grab a 3-3 draw with the second-placed side in Group C1.

Meanwhile, Lithuania’s draw at home to the Faroe Islands condemns them to relegation to League D with a game still to play.

Group C2

C2 is the only one of the 14 Nations League groups in which promotion has already been decided; Greece will be playing in League B next time around after winning all four of their opening fixtures.

The relegation situation is still up in the air, though, with Northern Ireland in the thick of things. Ian Baraclough’s side have just two points from a possible 12 and only sit above bottom-placed Cyprus on goal difference.

Northern Ireland are likely to stay up if they win both their matches against Kosovo and Greece but would still need Cyprus to drop points against either Greece or Kosovo to be sure.

Kosovo are four points clear of relegation but would be dragged into danger if they lose at Windsor Park on Saturday.

Group C3

Kazakhstan are on their way up to League B after a win over bottom-side Belarus on Thursday gave them an unassailable lead at the top of Group C3.

The result also sealed Belarus’ relegation to League D – they are four points adrift of a Slovakia side who lost at home to Azerbaijan on Thursday but with just one game remaining the promotion and relegation battle in this pool is decided.

Group C4

Promotion from Group C4 is between Georgia and North Macedonia, who face off in Tbilisi on Friday. Anything other than a win for the visitors is likely to secure top spot for the hosts, who are three points clear in first place and have a far superior goal difference.

Bulgaria and Gibraltar are the only two sides that can be relegated and come head-to-head in Razgrad on Friday night. A win for the home side, who are two points clear of the bottom-placed visitors, will secure survival.

Draws or wins for North Macedonia and Gibraltar in those matches will ensure the battles for promotion and relegation from Group C4 go down to the final matchday on Monday.

League D

Group D1

Moldova have set Latvia up for a nervy finale to their Nations League campaign after moving to within two points of the Group D1 leaders with a 2-1 win away in Riga on Thursday.

Latvia will still finish top if they win in Andorra on Sunday but Moldova will aim to keep the pressure on by beating Liechtenstein – still without a point – at home.

Group D2

A win or a draw for Estonia at home to Malta on Friday will confirm promotion to League C for the hosts.

Estonia can still claim top spot even if they lose to Malta, but would have to beat San Marino – who are guaranteed to finish bottom – on Monday and ensure they finish with a superior goal difference to their rivals.