LOWDOWN How does the UEFA Nations League work
The UEFA Nations League is set to begin this week.
However, Europe’s new international football competition is rather confusing.
Scroll down to see an explanation of how it all works.
What is the UEFA Nations League?
The UEFA Nations League is UEFA’s new international league-based tournament designed to keep European teams busy with competitive matches, rather than having so many friendlies.
It takes place once every two years and begins after a major summer tournament (in this case the 2018 World Cup).
How does the UEFA Nations League work?
The UEFA Nations League consists of four leagues (A, B, C & D).
The 55 participating countries are separated into the four leagues based on their UEFA coefficient ranking (which is based on their recent performances in international football).
Each league is then separated into four small groups (the draw for this took place in January).
Each group contains either three or four teams who must play each other home and away between September-November 2018.
In League D’s groups, the winner of each group is promoted to League C.
In League C’s groups, the winner of each group is promoted to League B, while the bottom-placed team from each group is relegated to League D.
In League B’s groups, the winner of each group is promoted to League A, while the bottom-placed team from each group is relegated to League C.
In League A’s groups, the winner of each group earns a place in the ‘UEFA Nations League Finals,’ while the bottom placed team from each group is relegated to League B.
Seven months after the UEFA Nations League groups finish (in November 2018) the ‘UEFA Nations League Finals’ will take place (in June 2019).
The ‘UEFA Nations League Finals ’ is a very simple tournament consisting of the four teams who won their League A groups.
There will be two semi-finals and a final to determine the UEFA Nations League champions.
Does the UEFA Nations League affect Euro 2020 qualifying?
Yes, it does.
Euro 2020 qualifying will begin as normal with a group stage starting in March 2019.
There will be ten groups and the top two teams from each group will qualify to take the first 20 spots at Euro 2020.
The four remaining spots will no longer be decided by traditional play-offs.
Instead the four highest ranked teams from each UEFA Nations League league who have not yet qualified for Euro 2020 will face each other in mini play-off tournaments, each one with a Euro 2020 spot at stake.
Who will England play in the UEFA Nations League?
England have been drawn to face Spain and Croatia in their UEFA Nations League group.
What are England’s fixtures in the UEFA Nations League?
September 8: England v Spain
October 12: Croatia v England
October 15: Spain v England
November 18: England v Croatia
