FIGHT FOR THE WORLD C UP
The group stage of the 2024-2025 UEFA Nations League will conclude after a series of consecutive matches from November 14 to 19 (each team will play their final two matches). There will be promotion/relegation, or a play-off to determine promotion/relegation after the group stage. In League A, the first and second teams in each group will advance to the quarter-finals and continue to compete for the championship in a knockout format in 2025.
Ronaldo (right) and the Portuguese team have a big advantage over Poland in Group 1.
In addition to the specific matter of an official tournament organized by UEFA since the 2018-2019 season (this is the 4th season of the Nations League), the upcoming matches are also of special importance because they are related to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Europe. This qualifier will be drawn into groups on December 13. The position in the FIFA rankings is the main basis for dividing the seed groups. The results of the upcoming matches in the Nations League will be the main factor determining the position of European teams in the FIFA rankings at the time of the World Cup qualifiers draw.
The race for World Cup tickets in Europe has never been as tense and difficult as it is now. At the 1982 World Cup, the finals had 24 teams, while Europe had 14 teams. Now, the World Cup has been increased to 48 teams, but Europe still only has 16 teams participating. When Europe had 14 teams participating in the 1982 World Cup, only 7 teams were given tickets to the 1984 EURO finals (along with the host team). That means in the past, getting a ticket to the EURO finals was much more difficult than getting a ticket to the World Cup. Now it is the opposite: EURO has 24 teams while only 16 European teams are allowed to go to the World Cup.
Only the top teams in the European qualifying round are guaranteed a place at the World Cup. This increases the importance of the luck/risk factor in the draw. Determining the seeding groups in the draw is therefore also very important. On the other hand, according to a rather "convoluted" series of regulations, small teams in the European region also have the hope of winning a ticket to the World Cup through their performance in the Nations League. At EURO 2024, Georgia appeared for the first time in a major tournament, and even advanced to the knockout stage, thanks to their success in the 2022-2023 Nations League. Let's repeat: most teams will fight it out in the upcoming matches in the Nations League, and this is not the kind of "disguised friendly" football, as people often scorn this arena.
WEST BARCELONA AND GERMANY ARE SURE TO GO OUT
In League A, defending champions Spain (Group 4) are already through to the quarter-finals. Denmark and Serbia will battle for the remaining spot. Likewise, Germany are in Group 3, with Hungary and the Netherlands fighting for the remaining spot. Italy and France have a big advantage over Belgium (Group 2) while Portugal and Croatia have a big advantage over Poland (Group 1). There has been only one small surprise in League A so far: Switzerland are bottom of Group 4, with relegation unlikely. Scotland, Israel and Bosnia & Herzegovina are all bottom of their groups and if they are relegated at the end of the group stage, it would not be a surprise.
The matches tonight (early morning of November 16, Vietnam time) are Portugal - Poland, Scotland - Croatia, Denmark - Spain and Switzerland - Serbia.
Cristiano Ronaldo is still in the Portuguese squad. But veteran Robert Lewandowski has withdrawn from the Polish squad due to injury. Lewandowski's Barcelona teammate, young star Lamine Yamal, has also withdrawn from the Spanish squad for the same reason. With stable strength, Denmark is determined to aim for a rare victory, against a Spain without Yamal, Gavi, Rodri, Dani Carvajal, Unai Simon, Pau Torres.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nations-league-bat-ngo-tro-nen-hap-dan-185241114225805272.htm
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