The primary worldwide break of the 2024/25 season is right here with soccer followers world wide keenly ready for some massive video games within the newest iteration of the UEFA Nations League.
For England, issues will likely be greater than a bit of totally different in comparison with the final time they featured within the competitors in 2022/23. For one, Gareth Southgate is now not within the supervisor’s hot-seat, with Lee Carsley taking interim cost earlier than the FA determine on a everlasting successor to their equally beloved and despised waistcoat connoisseur.
Whereas the Three Lions managed to squeeze their solution to the Euro 2024 last of their final worldwide outings, they have been poor within the previous Nations League and can play in League B throughout 2024/25.
Merely put, England have been garbage through the 2022/23 Nations League. Southgate’s aspect may solely handle three attracts and losses apiece in Group A3 towards Italy, Hungary and Germany.
After opening with a defeat in Hungary, Harry Kane’s penalty not less than salvaged a degree of their subsequent away match towards Germany. Nonetheless, one other insipid efficiency adopted in a goalless draw with Italy at Molineux earlier than England have been torn aside by Hungary.
Roland Sallai had opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute earlier than the guests struck one other 3 times within the second half. Sallai grabbed one other earlier than Zsolt Nagy added the third, with John Stones quickly despatched off for 2 bookable offences. Daniel Gazdag then made it 4-0, handing Southgate the heaviest defeat of his reign.
England realistically wanted two wins from their last video games towards Italy and Germany to keep away from relegation from League A, however they suffered defeat to the Azzurri because of Giacomo Raspodori’s winner and may solely draw 3-3 with DFB-Workforce, confirming their place on the backside of the group.
Having hoped to succeed in the finals within the Netherlands, the Three Lions as a substitute dropped into League B.
2022/23 Group A3
|
Place |
Workforce |
Performed |
Gained |
Drawn |
Misplaced |
GD |
Factors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Italy |
6 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
+1 |
11 |
|
2. |
Hungary |
6 |
3 |
1 |
2 |
+3 |
10 |
|
3. |
Germany |
6 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
+2 |
7 |
|
4. |
England |
6 |
0 |
3 |
3 |
-6 |
3 |
On account of their relegation, England will face a distinct set of opponents within the 2024/25 Nations League. The draw came about in February and noticed them paired with the Republic of Eire, Finland and Greece with matches beginning within the September worldwide break.
Whereas England are fourth in FIFA’s worldwide rankings, Finland are 63rd, Eire are 58th and Greece are 54th. As such, Carsley’s aspect are anticipated to dominate in Group B2 as they aim computerized promotion again into League A.
They face Eire and Finland of their first two video games earlier than internet hosting Greece and travelling to the Nordic nation to tackle Teemu Pukki and co for a second time.
A visit to Greece will come through the November worldwide break earlier than their League B marketing campaign concludes at Wembley Stadium towards Eire. In the event that they end prime of their group, England will likely be promoted to League A for 2026/27. Second and third rankings would see the two-time European Championship finalists advance to the promotion/relegation play-offs, whereas coming final would end in dropping all the way down to League C, the place the likes of Sweden, Romania and Northern Eire presently reside alongside different minnows like Azerbaijan, Estonia, Lithuania and Cyprus.
|
Date / Kick-off time (BST/GMT) |
Fixture |
|---|---|
|
07/09/2024 – 17:00 |
Republic of Eire vs England |
|
10/09/2024 – 19:45 |
England vs Finland |
|
10/10/2024 – 19:45 |
England vs Greece |
|
13/10/2024 – 17:00 |
Finland vs England |
|
14/11/2024 – 19:45 |
Greece vs England |
|
17/11/2024 – 17:00 |
England vs Republic of Eire |