The UEFA Euro 2020 is scheduled to be held in 12 cities in 12 European countries from 12 June to 12 July 2020. All 55 UEFA national teams, including the 12 host national teams have to compete in the qualifiers for the 24 places at the finals tournament. All 55 members of UEFA will be drawn into ten groups. Five groups of five teams and five groups of six teams, with the top two teams in each group qualifying. With this, we will get 20 teams from EURO qualifying.
What about the rest 4 teams spots? This is what UEFA Nations League 2018–19 is all about.
Let me explain it by QnA:
1. What is the UEFA Nations League?
Its a League of 55 countries, with four division or tier of leagues in it. Just like the English league or Spanish league which got different tiers.
2. How were the groups in the UEFA Nations League formed?
A total of 55 nations will be divided up into 4 leagues A, B, C, and D. This allocation is determined by country’s UEFA ranking in November 2017. The highest ranking nations in A, the next highest in League B and so on.
3. Which teams are in league A, B, C and D?
League A: Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, and the Netherlands
League B: Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Turkey.
League C: Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, and Lithuania.
League D: Azerbaijan, FYR Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino and Gibraltar.
4. How will each league be formed, since there are no equal numbers of the team in each group?
League A: 12 Teams will be split into four groups of three teams in each.
League B: 12 Teams will be split into four groups of three teams.
League C: 15 Teams will be split into one group of three teams and three groups of four teams.
League D: 16 Teams will be split into four groups of four teams each.
5. What do each League winner and loser get?
The four teams that finish bottom of their League will be relegated to the below League. The winner of League B, C and D will be promoted to above League.
6. Who will be UEFA Nations League winner?
ONLY League A group winners, will compete in two semi-finals and then a final. The winner will be that year UEFA Nations League winner.
7. How will we get rest 4 teams for EURO 2020?
The left 4 slots will be given to the winner of league A, B, C and D after a playoff between their group winners from each league.
8. What if the group winner of League A, B, C or D already got qualified for EURO by regular EURO 2020 Qualifier games, then which team will play the Play-offs from that league?
With an example, Scotland from League C and also got qualified for EURO after playing EURO 2020 Qualifiers. Then the next best in the league C will play the playoffs from league C. The next best team will be decided by common points and goal difference.
9. What is the difference between EURO 2020 Qualifier games and UEFA Nations League Play-offs?
UEFA has 55 counties affiliated, and each of these 55 nations will get drawn on 2 December 2018 into 10 groups. Five groups, Group A to Group E will have 5 teams and other five groups, Group F to Group J will have 6 teams in them. They will play EURO 2020 Qualifier, and top 2 teams from each 10 group will qualify for EURO 2020 under EURO 2020 Qualifier games.
UEFA Nations League got four league tier with presided 4 groups in each tier. Resulting 4 group winners from each league tier. These 4 group winners of that tier make a Play-offs group for that league. So four league tiers make 4 groups for UEFA Nations League Play-offs.
10. How can it give a second chance for Euro qualifying?
Teams that fail to qualify for Euro 2020 through regular qualifying will have a second chance because one team from each league will qualify for the finals. Even from League D, which was not possible before because most of them use to get absolutely waxed in regular qualifying.
I think it’s very cool that countries with less developed soccer programs are getting a shot to make it to the big stage.
11. The advantage for small and big teams to lose on purpose?
In EURO 2020 Qualifier games a smaller team can lose, but they still can qualify for EURO 2020 by playing good in UEFA Nations League and later in its Play-offs. But in that case, the smaller team have to choose, play 2 good games in EURO 2020 Qualifier against a tougher team or play 5 or 6 games with other smaller teams. Though for Big teams in League B or C dropping down means an easier road to the Euros during the next cycle.
12. Is League B is the best group to be in?
What if all the 12 teams from league A qualify for EURO 2020 by Qualifier games. Then next four best teams from each group of league B will play, UEFA Nations League Play-offs. So, there will be 8 teams 2 from each group from League B in U.N.L Play-offs for EURO.
It’s not rocket science.
It’s not rocket science but yes takes time to under the concept. And it’s a positive way to make those boring and injury prone international breaks games exciting and to earn good amount of money for UEFA. The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying draw will be held on 2 December 2018 at the Convention Centre Dublin in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland. And the UEFA Euro 2020 play-offs matches will take place between 26 and 31 March 2020.