UEFA Nations League: Four takeaways from matchday four

The Nations League is giving us some amazing moments in international football and a chance for England to be better than Germany.

I guess England is okay when Sterling plays like THAT

A few days ago, I was very critical of Gareth Southgate for not playing Jadon Sancho and James Maddison in England’s 0-0 draw with Croatia last week. I still stand by that and wish we got to see more of them during this break. However, the win over Spain in Seville convinced me that it’s okay for England to have a dry midfield if Raheem Sterling plays like that every game.

It took 1100 days for Sterling to FINALLY break his scoring streak for England and he got two in one of the best halves of football the Three Lions have had in the last 10 years against decent competition. Sterling, Rashford, and Kane finally found some chemistry and showed how good this side can be. With one more game against Croatia left to go, England could still make the final four and fans should be ecstatic that England is better than Germany!

Iceland and Poland are doomed

League A’s first two relegation teams are set as Iceland and Poland both lost this past week and will play in League B for the 2020-21 Nations League campaign. Both countries showed great potential for the future at Euro 2016 when they both made the quarterfinals and lost to the eventual finalists. Now, both teams have dropped down on the back of terrible performances in the UNL and World Cup in Russia.

Iceland’s downfall makes a little more sense. The squad is getting older and were in a tough group with Belgium and Switzerland. For Poland, the time to win might be slipping away and so is Robert Lewandowski’s scoring form. Losses to Portugal (without Ronaldo) and a struggling Italian team is a bad look for Poland and qualification for Euro 2020 looks a lot more unlikely.

Russia is really, really good

They haven’t stopped winning. In fact, Russia has lost only once in their last nine contests. Russia has performed brilliantly in their Nations League games and friendlies after their heartbreaking World Cup exit at home in July. They beat Turkey and the Czech Republic in September and got a draw against Sweden and another win over Turkey to go top of League B, Group 2.

With one more game to go against Sweden, Denis Cheryshev and company are in the driver’s seat to join the elite 12 of Europe in League A. The team chemistry is through the roof and the experience is showing very well. The only other team in League B better than Russia is Bosnia & Herzegovina, who hasn’t lost a game yet.

Finland and Georgia can make Euro 2020

For those still a little confused with how the Nations League connects to Euro 2020 qualification, here is how. The group winners from every League are guaranteed a spot in the Euro play-offs as sort of a second chance to qualify for the main tournament. For example, Georgia has clinched first-place in League D, Group 1. In the likely event Georgia cannot qualify out of their qualification group, they get a second chance in the play-off.

The tiny nation bordering Turkey hasn’t even come close to a major tournament and now have a back-up to making their first-ever European Championship. Another team trying to take that leap is Finland, who is four for four in their group and are close to securing a playoff spot. I can’t wait to see what other small European nations will play at the Euros through this play-off. It adds a variety this competition has needed and gives small countries a chance to play at the biggest stage in Europe.