2018 UEFA Nations League

Islesfan22

Registered User
Jan 15, 2013
6,768
2,628
Rockland
It's complicated, and not necessarily great.
Best thing is if you're in league A you get 4 matches with quality opponents instead of random friendlies (for example, our FA arranged a friendly with Jordan next month - which has to be about money, nothing else, no testing new players in any sort of competitive environment etc.).

Worst thing? One of the worst 16 teams, winner of league D will get a spot in the EUROs by default.
Utterly perplexing how anyone thought this was a good idea, having a team like Andorra (for example) make the EUROs, but maybe have someone from the top 2 leagues miss out because of a harder draw for the qualifiers.
Very complicated and it looks to be just a money grab by Uefa. The fact that someone like Andorra has better chance to qualify this way is a joke.
 

Gecklund

Registered User
Jul 17, 2012
25,142
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California
It doesn't. It has everything to do with smaller federations support to the moron who proposed this. Collecting cheap political points.
I was thinking them seeing how much money Iceland brought in and thinking they want that for other nations too.
 

TheMoreYouKnow

Registered User
May 3, 2007
16,385
3,413
38° N 77° W
Every FA in UEFA has a vote. If you're the FA of Kosovo or Kazakhstan and someone proposes a credible route to Euro qualification for your team, you're probably going to vote for that someone. This is similar as to how FIFA officials such as Blatter have done various things to get personal support from FAs in Africa etc.

UEFA and FIFA are political bodies, not corporations, so many of their decisions are made for political rather than apparent commercial reasons. It's more like the way a Congressional appropriations bill gets cooked up than a decision by Apple. Greed still plays into it, but it's more about strategically spreading the wealth to your supporters.
 

Ivan13

Not posting anymore
May 3, 2011
26,141
7,095
Zagreb, Croatia
I was thinking them seeing how much money Iceland brought in and thinking they want that for other nations too.

If you think UEFA is that altruistic you are pretty damn naive. This is about getting votes from minions such as Macedonia, Georgia etc. Those federations getting money from qualifying to big international events is the carrot that is just used as a powerful tool to make the horse (FAs) allow only one jockey (people proposing these inane competitions and the expansion of both the EC and WC) to ride it. It has nothing to do with the goodness of their heart and spreading the wealth to the little guys to build the game, and it has all to do with staying on power by catering to the voters, even if that means the complete deterioration of the prestige the competitions like WC and EC should carry.
 

Savi

Registered User
Dec 3, 2006
9,276
1,862
Bruges, Belgium
Boring and lacklustre first half between Belgium and Suisse

It's like one half of our team are pressing while the other half are sitting back.. its weird. Teams looks surprisingly out of sync

Tielemans went close twice but that's about it.. Carrasco, Meunier and Mertens are having their own game of who can accumulate the most shitty crosses
 

HajdukSplit

Registered User
Nov 9, 2005
11,035
762
NJ
Somehow England didn't win, they hit the post twice and Rashford missed two one on ones. Croatia created some half decent chances but nothing threatening Pickford too much, their best chances were shot straight at him. Basically this group's relegation will likely come down to the final matchday in November at Wembley
 

Corto

Faceless Man
Sep 28, 2005
15,991
942
Braavos
Yeah, that was some dire football in a dire atmosphere. Can't complain with the results, England missed two absolute sitters and hit the woodwork twice.

The whole team still looks drained (Croatia), missing Vrsaljko to a ridiculous point, no Brozovic either, and still getting used to life without Mandzukic.
 

HajdukSplit

Registered User
Nov 9, 2005
11,035
762
NJ
The whole team still looks drained (Croatia), missing Vrsaljko to a ridiculous point, no Brozovic either, and still getting used to life without Mandzukic.

Their attitude towards this tournament stinks, listen I know it isn't the end of the world if they get relegated but these guys are openly saying this tournament doesn't matter :laugh: Now that the U21s qualified its time to bring in those guys for the final two games. While in a 24 team Euro it might not be too important, but these results still factor into the Euro qualifying groups, Croatia can fall to Pot 2 if they don't pick up anymore points

Why was the match played with no fans?

UEFA punishment for the swastika incident in Split way back in 2015, the penalty is now over but since it was a fine from UEFA it didn't carry over into the World Cup qualifying
 
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HajdukSplit

Registered User
Nov 9, 2005
11,035
762
NJ
Going under the radar a bit is Finland is a perfect 3 for 3 in the Nations League and I remember to close the World Cup qualifying they were unbeaten in like 4-5 games too including getting a point in Croatia which almost knocked them out. Maybe a good generation coming through or just coincidence? :D
 

HajdukSplit

Registered User
Nov 9, 2005
11,035
762
NJ
Their attitude towards this tournament stinks, listen I know it isn't the end of the world if they get relegated but these guys are openly saying this tournament doesn't matter :laugh:

And here's a post game quote from Lovren
"...iako je teško igrati ove utakmice koje znaš da se igraju za ništa"

Basically saying these games are difficult to play because they mean nothing :rolleyes: Though his club manager Klopp was also making a stink about this tourmament
 

Ajacied

Stay strong Appie! ❤
Apr 6, 2002
25,136
911
Netherlands
Rosario (21 - PSV) would've made his Oranje debut tonight, but he is suspended. The KNVB whiffed on that one as they had him starting.

Oranje will be decent to good again once we've worked out the Babels and de Roons out of the lineup. Both are starting now. De Roon especially is just slow not Oranje quality. Blind at LB is a weakness, too. Would've liked to see Ake, Fosu-Mensah, or even de Vrij at LB.

Looking forward to the Depay-Bergwijn combo, Dumfries making his debut, as well as Frenkie de Jong and de Ligt vs another WC-juggernaut. But comparing teams, Germany has the much better side. Oranje won't be relevant for another year or two. I count only 5 players that have the quality we should strive for right now (Depay, van Dijk, de Ligt, de Jong, Bergwijn).
 

WhiskeySeven*

Expect the expected
Jun 17, 2007
25,154
770
Mueller's had a good game actually. But Löw's got to go, there isn't any point delaying the inevitable. He doesn't have any answers.
Lol of course he subs Mueller off. Can had to go off though, he didn't have any impact at all.

I really want Uth to score now.
 

robertmac43

Forever 43!
Mar 31, 2015
23,096
15,176
Germans fail to score in three consecutive competitive games for the first time in their history...... That is wild
 

HajdukSplit

Registered User
Nov 9, 2005
11,035
762
NJ
Way things are going possible GER, ITA and ENG all could get relegated. Doubt all three will at the same time but a team like Germany is in awful form and go to France next MD meaning they will probably have to beat Holland on the final MD at home

In other games; Gibraltar won their first ever competitive fixture as they beat Armenia away from home. In League D both Georgia and Macedonia in good shape to win their groups, again one of these teams will be in Euro 2020

Czechs with their new manager beat Slovakia in Trnava, however that makes Ukraine heavy favorites to make the top division in the next edition of the Nations League
 

WhiskeySeven*

Expect the expected
Jun 17, 2007
25,154
770
Way things are going possible GER, ITA and ENG all could get relegated. Doubt all three will at the same time but a team like Germany is in awful form and go to France next MD meaning they will probably have to beat Holland on the final MD at home

In other games; Gibraltar won their first ever competitive fixture as they beat Armenia away from home. In League D both Georgia and Macedonia in good shape to win their groups, again one of these teams will be in Euro 2020

Czechs with their new manager beat Slovakia in Trnava, however that makes Ukraine heavy favorites to make the top division in the next edition of the Nations League
I'm loving the Nations League. Good drama.

Jogi should be out already, but more importantly Grindel and Bierhoff have to go.
Bierhoff's quote and conclusion about Bayern reminding him of the WC Germany team made me have a double-take. These clowns need to take some manager refresher courses and learn some tactics. Go to Italy and train under some of their Serie B managers who surely know how to unlock a stubborn defense better than the entirety of the DFB hierarchy.
 

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