Started in September 2024, the group stage of the League of Nations will end in November at the end of the last two days which take place during the current international break. The challenge of these last two matches is simple in League A: validate its place for the quarter-finals of the competition, a new feature introduced this year to extend the knockout phase.
Spain and Germany already qualified
The first two nations in each group will qualify for this additional round, which will take place in a two-way match, and which will validate their ticket for the Final Four, organized in June 2025.
Thus, eight nations will now compete in the knockout phase, unlike four previously. Which increases the stakes of these last two days of the group stage since more teams are still in the game.
For Germany and Spain, there will be less pressure since these two selections, at the top of groups 3 and 4, secured their place in the quarter-finals on the fourth day. From now on, they must consolidate their first place in order to take the advantage by hosting the quarter-final return on March 23, 2025, three days after the away quarter.
An Italy-France match to decide first place?
Portugal and Italy, also at the top of their respective groups, are also on track to qualify. Three more points and they will definitely play in the knockout phase. In group B, that of Italy (1re10 pts) and France (2e9 pts), the last day could be decisive in deciding which of its two nations will finish on top. To do this, the Blues must first win against Israel to continue to put pressure on the Squadra Azzurra.
With six points still to be taken, the dice are not yet cast and we could experience a turnaround. Croatia, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, Serbia, all these countries still believe in their chances. The fifth and penultimate day of the Nations League, whose matches will be played from Thursday November 14 to Saturday November 16, will allow a first selection of the nations still in the running.
The program
Day 5
Thursday November 14: A2 Belgium – Italy; A2 France – Israel
Friday November 15: A1 Portugal – Poland; A1 Scotland – Croatia; A4 Denmark – Spain; A4 Switzerland – Serbia
Saturday November 16: A3 Germany – Bosnia-Herzegovina; A3 Netherlands – Hungary
READ ALSO. Nations League – Schedule and results
Day 6
Sunday November 17: A2 Israel – Belgium; A2 Italy – France
Monday November 18: A1 Croatia – Portugal: A1 Poland – Scotland; A4 Serbia – Denmark; A4 Spain – Switzerland
Tuesday November 19: A3 Bosnia-Herzegovina – Netherlands; A3 Hungary – Germany
