Yorkie Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Briefly covered in NWOAT, but I thought it might be worth its own discussion because I hadn't even heard of it before today. Guardian: UEFA has confirmed which teams are in each of the four leagues for the inaugural Nations League, European football’s new international competition intended to replace most friendlies. Based on the coefficient rankings after the group stages of the European qualifiers for Russia 2018, England, ranked sixth, are in League A, while Wales (14th), the Republic of Ireland (19th) and Northern Ireland (21st) are in League B, and Scotland (27th) are in League C. All 55 Uefa nations are assigned to a league, with 12 teams in A and B, 15 in C and 16 in D. At a draw in Lausanne on 24 January, each league will then be divided into four groups of either three or four nations and they will play each other home and away from September to November next year. A promotion and relegation system will operate between the leagues – four up, four down – and the second edition of the competition is scheduled to start in September 2020. The winners will be decided at a tournament between the nations that finish top of the four League A groups in June 2019, with semi-finals, a third-place match and a final to be held in one of the finalist countries. Uefa has introduced the competition to revive international football with more competitive matches and to give countries more chances to play against teams of a comparable standard. But many fans, players and pundits have expressed some confusion over the idea, particularly as it will run alongside qualifying for the 2020 European Championship. That process will now begin in March 2019, with countries split into 10 groups of five or six, and the top two teams in each group qualifying for the finals. The major change, however, is that the final four places will be decided via play-offs between the winners of the 16 Nations League groups in 2018. Each league – A to D – will have its own play-off competition with single-leg semi-finals and a final to decide who wins the place. The draw for those play-offs will take place in November 2019 and the play-offs themselves will occur in March 2020. Lionel Messi hat-trick secures Argentina's passage to World Cup If the winners of a Nations League group have already qualified for Euro 2020 via the qualifying groups, their place in the play-off will go to the next best team in their Nations League group that has not secured a place. If a league still does not have enough teams for a play-off, as is entirely possible for League A, the places will be filled by the best-ranked teams from the league below. Uefa Nations League sections League A Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Holland. League B Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey. League C Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania. League D Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar. I'm sure there's something cynical behind the scenes which makes this a terrible idea, but I think it sounds interesting. Anything to add some interest to friendlies (and also prevent teams from prospering purely through exploiting the rankings) is a positive. Proof will be in the pudding but quite enthused to see something quite radical to potentially add interest to what's normally the worst periods of the season. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbnufc Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCXf63t7R8w Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kanji Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 thanks, was actually very helpful! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Does that mean no more friendly's against Brazil ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ketsbaia Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 When this came up on Football Manager I was horrified. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 I like it if it's replacing friendlies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Also a big fan of the branding. Heavy Greenland flag vibes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Disco Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Also a big fan of the branding. Heavy Greenland flag vibes. knew there was something familiar about it when I saw it earlier. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrmojorisin75 Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 I like it if it's replacing friendlies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 UEFA for all it's faults is by far the best of the confederations. I like the qualifying system for providing plenty of games against varying opposition and improving weaker teams, and this will provide a whole host more of competitive fixtures for teams and the opportunity for them to gradually improve. One of the biggest problems for the other confederations is the lack of games the smaller nations get to play, which restricts development, stops them building sides and can even mean better players won't bother to turn up or will switch if they have dual citizenship. UEFA has an advantage because of the geography and the wealth of it's member FAs, but it's still good that it reinforces this advantage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Is it just the teams from group A that get to go in the final ? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. Agree Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere I forget how dour we are sometimes. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kaizero Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere I forget how dour we are sometimes. As a non-Englishman I do enjoy watching International football. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest chopey Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Is this totally separate from the Euros or can you qualify from this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEMTEX Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 If you win your NL division, you get lobbed into a tournament that takes place after normal qualification, if you failed to qualify. There are 4 winners in that tournament. If you're 1 of them, you qualify. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mole_Toonfan Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere What does being English have to do with enjoying or not enjoying other teams? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponsaelius Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 International football is entertaining to me. It throws up great drama and stories worth following if you're sad enough to do so. Probably enjoy it far more than the CL, although I guess I'm in the minority on that front. England qualifying campaigns are monumentally dull, however. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
triggs Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere What does being English have to do with enjoying or not enjoying other teams? Nothing, I'm a massive xenophobe Nah, what I mean is that most people only watch their own country in internationals. This is why so many English people don't like international breaks. We're even worse to watch but our games actually mean something and I and most Irish people love internationals as a result. Its too easy for England in the qualifiers for it to be exciting Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 That's really interesting actually. I don't like the idea of the semi-final/final etc to determine a Nations League winner, it seems a bit pointless, but the league system looks a good idea. Outside of a few weeks every 2 year international football is unwatchable at the minute. It is if you're from England, not everywhere What does being English have to do with enjoying or not enjoying other teams? Nothing, I'm a massive xenophobe Nah, what I mean is that most people only watch their own country in internationals. This is why so many English people don't like international breaks. We're even worse to watch but our games actually mean something and I and most Irish people love internationals as a result. Its too easy for England in the qualifiers for it to be exciting Pretty much all my Swedish mates hates international weekends as well like. South American qualifiers last night were a laugh mind. Just like any football, there can be good stuff, but compared to club football it's a drag. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Sweden are a bit like England though tbf. Never really been a great side but not shite enough for mediocrity to be exiting. I don't mean it in a condescending way either like, I completely get why Ireland fans are proud to support their team. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nobody Posted October 11, 2017 Share Posted October 11, 2017 Aye, fair point like. Anyway, while this is convoluted as fuck, at least it gets rid of the stupid friendlies. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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