The 2020 Nations League Draw

"Solum audax…solum fortis...solum magnus...the Nations Leeeeaaaagueeee…"

Have to admit, the theme is a banger. 

Anyways, the draw for the Nations League has just concluded, so here's a few thoughts about each league, in no particular order, just as they come to mind. 

First off, the UEFA Stream wasn't great. It kept crashing on me, and I missed half the League C draw and a few teams out of A. I kept wondering who was going where. Fix your streams, UEFA. 

Secondly, this affects both World Cup qualifying seeding and the playoffs. The way the tournament will work is, firstly the Nations League will take place, then the draw for the World Cup will be based on the FIFA World Rankings and not the finishing positions for the Nations League as it was for Euro 2020. However, the format of the World Cup qualifying for UEFA is:

13 qualifying places

55 teams

10 Groups; 5 of 5, 5 of 6

Group Winners qualify for the FIFA World Cup. 

The ten runners-up will be joined by the two Nations League GROUP WINNERS that have not finished in the top two of their World Cup qualifying group. 

Those teams will play in three Playoff paths of four, with a single elimination tournament, and the three winners of those paths will qualify for the FIFA World Cup. 

So, it's likely that because all four League A Group Winners will finish in the top two, this hands an opportunity to the League B or even League C Group Winners to make the playoffs. So, winning your group here is huge. The effect on the FIFA Rankings for this will be huge, especially for those who miss Euro 2020, as your coefficient will be affected by playing, or not playing, in that tournament. 

So while it doesn't offer the qualifying spot outright to a team from Leagues A-D like Euro 2020 did, it is still a massive opportunity for teams who miss the top two in regular qualifying. 

Got that? Good. 

Onto the Nations League draw then:

LEAGUE D

First off, two teams from pot A were drawn into one group, same with the other, and two and one from pot B were drawn, unlike the simple four pots of four teams. Interesting. Still think UEFA needs a 56th member to even out the final group though. 

Latvia must fancy their chances of promotion. Faroe Islands, Andorra and Malta? Gift of a group. 

Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, San Marino. This is an actual tournament group. You gotta love the Nations League. 

I'd be surprised if any of these teams get anywhere near the World Cup. But you never know. I mean, Panama qualified for the last one. There's hope for everyone. 

LEAGUE C

While none of these sixteen teams have qualified for Euro 2020 yet, one of them will be at the finals, as all four teams promoted from League D feature here and also in the Path D playoffs. Interesting.

This league also features a former European Champion. Hi, Greece. 

Montenegro, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan is the only group here without a team in the playoffs and the only one with a host nation for Euro 2020. That is something. 

Georgia and North Macedonia could meet for a place at Euro 2020 and they also meet here, along with Estonia and Armenia. I stared at that Armenia flag for about five minutes before it clicked who they were. Huh. 

Group C3 is by far and away the most interesting group for me. Greece, a former European Champion, Slovenia, who have been to two World Cups, and Kosovo, who nearly qualified automatically and are my favourites to make it out of Path D to Euro 2020. Tough break, Moldova. 

I have harrowing memories of Kazakhstan, Lithuania AND Belarus. All three have cost Scotland in the past. We did beat Albania twice in the last Nations League, mind you, and that's the only time we've ever played them. I went to that game at Hampden. In the meantime, Albania are the only ones who have made it to a tournament (Euro 2016), but Belarus have a shot at Euro 2020.

LEAGUE B

This is the league I have the most interest in, for obvious reasons. Not only are my home nation, Scotland, in this league, but also Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and Wales. Let's see what we got here. 

Not an easy draw for Northern Ireland. Tough games against Austria, Romania and Norway. Austria and Romania both made Euro 2016 (mind you so did Northend Ireland) , Austria are at Euro 2020 and Norway might (but hopefully won't) get to Euro 2020 (and once again so might Northern Ireland).

I'm overall happy with our draw. Israel again, we'll see them in a few weeks. Czech Republic, we'll hopefully see them in June. And Slovakia who we beat in the last minute at Hampden in 2017. This could have been a lot worse for us, and it's teams we're familiar with. I don't hate this? 

Russia, Serbia, Turkey, Hungary. Holy Christ. Not for the faint of heart. All four of these could be at the Euros. Two have already qualified (Russia and Turkey) and two have playoffs to get there (Serbia and Hungary). This should be a entertaining group for the neutral , that's for sure. 

Wales and Republic of Ireland drawn together yet again. They must be sick of the sight of each other. Joined by first time debutants at Euro 2020 Finland, as well as Bulgaria. This is another group where all four teams could be at the Euros in the summer. Will be a tough group to win. 

LEAGUE A

Finally, the creme de la creme, the elite league, featuring four teams who were actually relegated from this league, a couple who must got through playoffs (Iceland and Bosnia and Herzegovina), and a fair whack of the Euro 2020 qualifiers. Let's get into it. 

The most interesting part of Group A1 for me is the fact Poland and Italy are drawn together, as two of my closest Uni friends are from there. Netherlands will be hard to beat, having remembered that they are in fact the Netherlands again after missing Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. In fact Poland were the only team in this group to be in Russia. Rounding out this group are Bosnia and Herzegovina, who in the meantime are aiming for their first Euros. 

All four of the teams in Group A2 were in Russia and will be at Euro 2020. England play Iceland again for the first time since Euro 2016, and Belgium for the first time since playing them twice (and losing to them twice) in the 2018 World Cup. There will be a Nordic Derby between Denmark and Iceland, and Belgium will face Iceland again after helping to relegate them from this league, which was overturned with the format change. 

Portugal and France will meet again in A3, with Portugal returning to the Stade de France for the first time since beating France to win Euro 2020. They'll also meet in Budapest this summer. France and Croatia will play their first competitive game since France beat Croatia 4-2 in Moscow in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final. Sweden round off this group and will be a tough out for all three of these teams. 

And finally, Group A4, which features Switzerland, Spain, Ukraine and Germany. Spain v Germany is the highlight here, but all four teams are strong as this will be an entertaining group to watch. Could this be the Group of Death? Potentially. All four will be at Euro 2020, but will avoid each other in the group stages. We could see early meetings in the knockout rounds, but it will be somewhat fresh matchups here otherwise. Spain beat Germany to win Euro 2008 and on their way to winning the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Switzerland were the only team to beat Spain at the World Cup they won, Ukraine knocked Switzerland out of the 2006 World Cup, and Germany beat Ukraine in the groups of Euro 2016, so all four do have some history. 

And that's your initial thoughts on the Nations League. We've got a lot more football to play before this kicks off in September, but it should be an exciting , entertaining tournament that has an effect on the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

Allez the Nations League.