What are the challenges for the end of the group stage?

Thomas Siniecki, Media365: published on Wednesday November 13, 2024 at 9:22 p.m.

From Thursday to Tuesday, the League of Nations will deliver its first verdict by drawing the different qualifiers for the quarters and play-offs.

Ligue A

In group 1, Portugal will be certain of qualifying for the quarter-finals in March (while waiting for the Final Four in June) if they take a point against Poland. But in this four-cushion billiard game that keeps the stakes high on each level – first place guaranteeing a match against a second place, and third place qualifying for a play-off (also a round trip in March) against a team second in league B, and so on between all the leagues – Croatia, second three points behind the Portuguese, must not be missed at the same time in Scotland, otherwise they will be threatened on Sunday against the Selecçao. It is a priori clearer in group 2, one point sufficient for France to qualify against Israel before the group final in Italy.

In Group 3, Germany is almost sure to finish at the top with its five points lead, but it is the Netherlands – Hungary on Saturday which promises to be decisive for second place, with both teams being tied. Spain, three points ahead in Group 4, is also very well on its way to establishing its leadership position, which will be official if it does not lose in Denmark on Friday. But the Danes should above all fight with Serbia on Monday for second place.

Leagues B, C and D

In the lower leagues, all eyes are inevitably on England, who will play their last round in Greece on Thursday to try to steal first place in Group 2, facing the locals who are the only ones to have won their four first matches in League B (including a 2-1 success in England last month). Georgia (group 1), if it beats Ukraine then the Czech Republic, would be the first team to move from League D – in 2018 – to League A. Norway, Austria and Slovenia are in the fight in Group 3, Turkey is ahead of Wales in Group 4.

In League C, only North Macedonia is officially promoted (group 4). Sweden and Romania are well placed to secure their return to League B, but it is not yet done. Finally, in League D, San Marino would historically be promoted to League C in the event of a success against Gibraltar on Friday, after having achieved the first success in its history in competition in September.