The Nations League league stage is over, and it leaves behind some "interesting" pots for the Euro 24 draw on 9th October.
England and France will be in pot 2 after a very poor campaign. They are joined by Wales and Scotland, with the latter enjoying a great Nations League campaign.
The top pot contains Hungary, currently ranked 37th in the FIFA rankings, and Poland (15th highest UEFA nation). However, the usual suspects such as Spain, Italy, Belgium and Portugal will be in there too.
Some of the more notable nations outside the top 2 pots include Sweden, Norway and, of course, the mighty Republic of Ireland
Given 2 nations qualify from each group, and then there is 3 places available from the Nations League play-offs, it is surely unthinkable any major nation will miss out.
Remains to be seen how the 2026 World Cup qualification will work, but Englands demotion could make it slightly more difficult even though there are more places for UEFA.
Euro 24 Qualifying
posted on 28/9/22
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 4 minutes ago
oh and before i forget.....
think on this.
England relegation means what?
Euro 2024 non seeding.
Nationsl league 2024/25 will see england in league B but this then ASSURES england of being non seeded in the draw for Euro 2028 qualifying?
think about that one. two bad games v hungary in 2022 means 6/8 years of impact.
PLUS mind you.... they are talking about trying to bring in the south americans as well.... so the "glamour" friendles in dubai that have been missing form the caladenr are coming back dressed up as a tournament.
Net/Net the whole point was to do away with so many friendlies mid season and we end up with even more games.
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0 wins in your last 6 might be the reason ?? just maybe?
posted on 28/9/22
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 19 minutes ago
People need to realise that the nations league has not really delivered for the small nations.
If you are top seed its all well and good, the big nations have locked that down but england have proved that if you mess about at all then you can be dropped quick.
But if you go down to the lower leagues.
Guess what san marino were grouped with estonia and malta and lost all 4 games they had. they will STILL be in the pot for euro qualification. whats the point?
Or league C, someone like Georigia is promotied to league b and then is a long away trip for some side. Yes they have a right to try and improve over time and this gives them "a goal" but really who the hell cares that georgia played bulgaria and north macedonia anyway.
What it does do is expose just how poor a lot of european sides actually are.
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North Macedonia got a major tournament and put Italy out of the world cup.
Hungary are top seeds.
Gibraltar got a promotion and a few wins under their belt.
Hell, even Scotland got to a major tournament on the back of it.
posted on 28/9/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 19 minutes ago
People need to realise that the nations league has not really delivered for the small nations.
If you are top seed its all well and good, the big nations have locked that down but england have proved that if you mess about at all then you can be dropped quick.
But if you go down to the lower leagues.
Guess what san marino were grouped with estonia and malta and lost all 4 games they had. they will STILL be in the pot for euro qualification. whats the point?
Or league C, someone like Georigia is promotied to league b and then is a long away trip for some side. Yes they have a right to try and improve over time and this gives them "a goal" but really who the hell cares that georgia played bulgaria and north macedonia anyway.
What it does do is expose just how poor a lot of european sides actually are.
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North Macedonia got a major tournament and put Italy out of the world cup.
Hungary are top seeds.
Gibraltar got a promotion and a few wins under their belt.
Hell, even Scotland got to a major tournament on the back of it.
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speaking as one of the lesser nations, I can confirm its miles miles better than playing friendlies.
Going by the players reactions its not a debate either
posted on 28/9/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 1 minute ago
comment by moreinjuredthanowen (U9641)
posted 19 minutes ago
People need to realise that the nations league has not really delivered for the small nations.
If you are top seed its all well and good, the big nations have locked that down but england have proved that if you mess about at all then you can be dropped quick.
But if you go down to the lower leagues.
Guess what san marino were grouped with estonia and malta and lost all 4 games they had. they will STILL be in the pot for euro qualification. whats the point?
Or league C, someone like Georigia is promotied to league b and then is a long away trip for some side. Yes they have a right to try and improve over time and this gives them "a goal" but really who the hell cares that georgia played bulgaria and north macedonia anyway.
What it does do is expose just how poor a lot of european sides actually are.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
North Macedonia got a major tournament and put Italy out of the world cup.
Hungary are top seeds.
Gibraltar got a promotion and a few wins under their belt.
Hell, even Scotland got to a major tournament on the back of it.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Proves the point really doesn't it! its good for us smaller nations and gives everyone a chance. Also good for the likes of Malta, San Marino etc to play against similar opposition and actually know how it feels to score, and win games!
posted on 28/9/22
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 4 hours, 13 minutes ago
Why do we need these kind of torunaments? Nothing to do with fan demands, but more to do with trying to extract more money from TV/Broadcasts. No gain in playing these games, other than for most teams give a run to those players who are backup or reserve ones.
It has just clattered the footballing calender even more, and may hopefully not, cause further injury concerns to teams that are involved in so many tournaments.
Absolute waste of time.
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Probably better to check facts before going on a rant.
posted on 28/9/22
comment by D'Jeezus Mackaroni (U1137)
posted 2 hours, 35 minutes ago
comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 1 hour, 33 minutes ago
Why do we need these kind of torunaments? Nothing to do with fan demands, but more to do with trying to extract more money from TV/Broadcasts. No gain in playing these games, other than for most teams give a run to those players who are backup or reserve ones.
It has just clattered the footballing calender even more, and may hopefully not, cause further injury concerns to teams that are involved in so many tournaments.
Absolute waste of time.
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No extra fixtures have been added. It replaced friendlies with something more competitive. And has been a success, and is being replicated across the football World
It is the actual qualifiers I think should go. They are the real bore. Let Nations League decide it all
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This. The Nations League has given smaller nations a chance, giving them competitive games against countries on their own level and of course a chance of qualifying for a major tournament. The seedings for the qualifiers basically give these countries no chance of progressing.
Look at Georgia, topping their group with 16 points, now have a chance of qualifying for the EUROs, up against Turkey, Greece or Kazakhstan if I understand it correctly.
These countries barely had a chance in the normal qualifiers due to seedings. If you don't play games on your level and have hope, you're never going to improve.
posted on 28/9/22
When we were in league C we had to play the likes of Israel and Serbia to qualify, then in league B we have to play the likes of Israel and Serbia to qualify. Then in league A we will have to play the likes of Israel and Serbia to qualify.
posted on 28/9/22
but really who the hell cares that georgia played bulgaria and north macedonia anyway.
can say that about any country really
posted on 28/9/22
comment by Taki Minamino (U20650)
posted 43 seconds ago
but really who the hell cares that georgia played bulgaria and north macedonia anyway.
can say that about any country really
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people from georgia, bulgaria, north macedonia.
Im happy to see it.
Most people outside England want them to fail cos its a good laugh watching the meltdown. Football isnt all about England.
posted on 28/9/22
Tbh I've rarely watched qualifiers in the last 10 years. There's no entertainment in watching Emgland thrash san marino. Glorified friendlies or not, I prefer the nations league.