UEFA Nations League: Everything you need to know

The second edition of the UEFA Nations League kicks off this Thursday with Germany taking on Spain. Here’s what you need to know about the tournament.

National teams, inactive since the winter because of the pandemic, never got the chance to play in the European Championship, a tournament that was delayed to next summer because of coronavirus.

The Nations League, now in its second edition, was created to cut down on meaningless friendlies and create more competitive matches outside of World Cup and European Championship qualifying cycles. The next three months will feature the group phase. The finals are slated for next year.

The soccer season in Europe has been turned topsy turvy as a result of the pandemic. The club season was halted this past March. Leagues resumed this summer and the Champions League pushed to last month. As a result, there will be a condensed summer break. As for national teams, the Nations League tournament puts them back on schedule barring any other major virus outbreaks.

The start of Euro 2020 was pushed to next June 11. The month-long competitions is still scheduled to be played in 12 cities across Europe to celebrate what would have been the tournament’s 60th anniversary this year. Oddly, the tournament will retain the name Euro 2020 despite it taking place a year later.

As teams prepare to take the field, here’s everything you need to know about the UEFA Nations League.

Who will be participating?

All of UEFA’s 55 members have entry into the tournament. Each team is divided into four leagues — with Leagues A, B and C featuring 16 teams each, divided into four groups of four teams. League D will feature seven teams divided into two groups, one with consisting of four teams and the other just three. The teams were allocated to the various leagues based on the 2018-19 Nations League overall rankings.

The tournament will feature Europe’s top teams, including Belgium, currently the No. 1 team in the world according to the latest FIFA rankings, defending World Cup champion France, England and Croatia. These teams, all of which had a stellar World Cup just two years ago, are the favorites heading into the tournament. Perennial powerhouses such as Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands are also contenders.

Which country won it last time?

While last year’s inaugural edition had its detractors, the tournament was a welcome addition to the soccer calendar. Last year’s final, held in Portugal, featured the host nation, Switzerland, England and the Netherlands.

In the end, Portugal captured the trophy, consolidating itself as the best team on the continent after having captured Euro 2016. Portugal defeated the Dutch in the final 1-0 on a goal by Goncalo Guedes. Portugal, currently No. 7 in the FIFA rankings and featuring Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo, is favored to repeat.

How do the four leagues work?

Only the 16 teams in League A’s four groups can reach the semifinals. Teams in Leagues B, C and D play for promotion and relegation, akin to Europe’s domestic club competitions. Teams to watch for in League B that are looking to gain promotion are Czech Republic, Russia, Scotland and Turkey.

The last place finishers in each League A group are relegated. The formula works the same way for Leagues C and D. The tournament format makes it so that every game matters. For those in League A, the matchups feature encounters pitting heavyweights that help cut down on lopsided results. You can check out the complete schedule here.

When will the 2021 finals take place?

The semifinal round is scheduled for September/October 2021. An exact date has yet to be determined. The original date for the finals, which included the championship match and a third-place game, had originally been slated for June 2-6, 2021.

How does it impact World Cup qualifying?

The Nations League has no direct correlation to World Cup qualifying. The European qualifiers for Qatar 2022 will also feature the continent’s 55 members. The four teams participating in the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals will be drawn into a group with five teams (Groups A to E) and can only contain a maximum of one Nations League finalist.

The qualifiers feature a different group stage (and playoffs) starting in March 2021. The draw will be held this November.