So we head into another international break, and all eyes turn to qualification for the 2018 World Cup.
Well, no. Some eyes will be on the Nations League - a new addition to the footballing world. For as well as qualification for the 2018, countries will also be playing for their position in the Nations League.
What is the Nations League
http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/news/newsid=2079553.html
A new 4 tier competition for UEFA nations.
Nations are split into 4 divisions, then into 4 groups within that division. The splits are based on UEFA coefficients.
The groups then play a round robin set of fixtures.
The winners of the groups then play off to determine the champions of their division.
The Champions of each division win a place at Euro 2020.
The rewards
There are FOUR Euro 2020 places - 1 available for each divisional winner.
That means a nation in the bottom 16 ranked nations will qualify for Euro 2020.
The standings also determine rankings for future draws.
The bottom 4 teams in each division (bar 4th) will be relegated at the end of the tournament, and the top 4 teams in each division (bar 1st) will be promoted for the second edition of the Nations League in 2020.
Euro 2020 Qualifiers
As stated, 4 teams will qualify from the Nations League.
The other 20 places will be decided in the traditional Group Stage manner.
There will be 10 groups of 5 or 6 teams, with the top 2 going through to Euro 2020.
There will be no play-offs at the end of qualification.
The draw will be made for the Qualifiers after the completion of the Nations League league stages.
More Games??
No, International friendlies will be the fixtures to lose out - although there is still room for them.
What position are the Home Nations in?
http://www.footballseeding.com/national-ranking-uefa/ranking-2017/
ENGLAND
Pretty much guaranteed to be in Division 1. Currently 6th, so would be second seeds. However, due to Russia not having any qualifiers their position is false - so there is the opportunity for England to become one of the top seeds.
WALES and REPUBLIC of IRELAND
Currently 15th and 17th, they are in the second division. But it is close, so there is an opportunity of one or both of getting into the top division. However, the benefits of this seem questionable so they may hope that they can qualify for Russia18 without breaking into the elite.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Currently sitting in the positions that will make up the third division, they are not far off the likes of Turkey, Czech Republic and Romania.
SCOTLAND
Very much set for the 3rd tier. Considering their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup seem pretty much over, the fact that each division is guaranteed a spot at Euro2020 they may even be thinking about the benefits of falling into the 4th Division - but that looks unlikely.
Whats the point?
Firstly it gives us more competitive fixtures. While the Euro20 qualifiers will still have the mix and match of quality, the Nations League all but replace friendlies, and matches nations of similar quality.
At the bottom end it gives small Nations competitive football, and the carrot of what was once an out-of-their-reach place at the European Championship.
At the top end it is designed to pit the best against each other with reward at the end.
The weird and wonderful changes...
posted on 20/3/17
How the divisions could look based on current standings:
Division 1
Group 1 - Germany, England, Poland
Group 2 - Belgium, Italy, Croatia
Group 3 - Portugal, Switzerland, Russia
Group 4 - Spain, France, Netherlands
Division 2
Group 1 - Wales, Bosnia, Czech Rep.
Group 2 - Iceland, Hungary, Romania
Group 3 - Ukraine, Ireland, Sweden
Group 4 - Austria, Slovakia, Turkey
Division 3
Group 1 - Slovenia, Denmark, Scotland, Finland
Group 2 - N.Ireland, Greece, Serbia, Cyprus
Group 3 - Israel, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan
Group 4 - Albania, Norway, Lithuania
Division 4
Group 1 -Estonia, Latvia, Macedonia, San Marino
Group 2 - Belarus, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Andorra
Group 3 - Georgia, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar
Group 4 - Armenia, Moldova, Malta, Kosovo
So one of those Division 4 sides would qualify for Euro 2020
posted on 20/3/17
The splits are based on UEFA coefficients.
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Coefficients
posted on 20/3/17
Glad you put this together DJ, coz I certainly wasn't gonna bite this one off.
It seems totally bizarre if i am honest. Is this another one of Van Basten's crazy ideas? I just see him in the alan partridge role being as for ideas.
No more offsides,
Sumo wrestler goalkeepers.
At least one of the worst teams in europe guaranteed entry to the Euros.
posted on 20/3/17
I have read this about 3 times and I still dont really get it, its not that its that difficult, its just I dont care.
posted on 20/3/17
In the long run though this would possibly benefit England as they would be used to playing ACTUAL competitive games more frequently.
posted on 20/3/17
comment by Edinspur (U1109)
posted 3 minutes ago
In the long run though this would possibly benefit England as they would be used to playing ACTUAL competitive games more frequently.
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Or they could get relegated and end up playing Hungary and Slovakia
posted on 20/3/17
comment by White Wall (U1078)
posted 31 minutes ago
I have read this about 3 times and I still dont really get it, its not that its that difficult, its just I dont care.
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Advice for the future... if you don't care about something don't waste your time reading it 3 times
posted on 20/3/17
It seems totally bizarre if i am honest.
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I think it is a good idea. Not sure about the way they are awarding Euro20 places though.
Meaningless friendlies will be largely gone (because Div 1 is only 12 teams they are spaces open for friendlies).
The biggest benefit, imo, is for the smaller teams who actually have a competition where they have a chance of building something. Similar to how the likes of Northern Ireland and Romania stepped up once there was an achievable reward at the end of 2016 qualifying.
posted on 20/3/17
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 5 minutes ago
comment by White Wall (U1078)
posted 31 minutes ago
I have read this about 3 times and I still dont really get it, its not that its that difficult, its just I dont care.
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Advice for the future... if you don't care about something don't waste your time reading it 3 times
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But I do want to understand and know whats going on, just half way through I give up.
International football is just so crap.
posted on 6/9/17
Missed this. I think it's an interesting idea. Looking forward to seeing how it pans out and, at least for now, hope it's a success. International football in between major tournaments was getting very stale, at least as far as UEFA countries go.
I hadn't even heard about this competition until this week, but I suppose we'll be hearing a lot more about it after the summer.