UEFA Nations League Preview
The international fixtures return this weekend as the Nations League group stage continues. Two fixtures for each team will take place this weekend and next week in the final group games to determine who will reach the finals of the competition.
Although some groups have already been decided with the likes of Portugal and France already qualifying from Group A3, other teams still have plenty to play for in the final two games. In Group A4, three nations will battle for qualification with Germany, Spain, and Ukraine still all in with a chance to reach the finals. Turkey could make a late charge from Group B3 too as they face two important matches against Russia and Hungary.
All odds are from bet365 and subject to change.
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Portugal v France
Portugal are currently on a seven-match unbeaten run in all competitions and have not lost a competitive international game since a 2-1 defeat to Ukraine in October 2019. The 2016 European Championship winners have only conceded one goal in four Nations League fixtures and top Group A3 with a +8-goal difference.
France are one of the most in form teams in international football and have won 10 of their last 12 matches in all competitions, drawing two. Their last defeat came in June 2019, a 2-0 loss to Turkey. During their unbeaten run across the last 12 games, Les Blues have scored 31 goals. The only time they failed to score was in a 0-0 draw with Portugal in a recent Group A3 fixture.
Cristiano Ronaldo will miss out for Portugal with an ankle injury. Rui Silva and Domingos Duarte are both out for the home side with coronavirus. Defender Benjamin Pavard will not feature for France with a knock.
Although the last meeting between these two teams finished in a goalless draw, France could edge this fixture and seize control of Group A3 before heading to the Nations League finals.
Sweden v Croatia
Sweden have lost all four of their Nations League matches this season and sit bottom of Group A3 on zero points. They have only won once in their last four matches, a 2-1 victory in an international friendly against Russia. Sweden have failed to score in three of their last five fixtures.
Despite being one of the highest ranked teams in FIFA’s rankings recently, Croatia have struggled of late. They have only won two of their last five matches in international competitions and haven’t kept a clean sheet in eight matches. Croatia’s 11 goals conceded is the worst defensive record in Group A3 and one of the worst in the entire 2020 Nations League tournament.
Mattias Johansson will be unavailable for Sweden due to suspension. Croatia have a fully fit and available squad to select.
Both of these teams are in poor form but the visitors are more likely to secure a win as they possess a bit more quality than winless Sweden.
Germany v Ukraine
Germany’s international form has stuttered of late and they have drawn four of their last five matches and a narrow 2-1 win over Ukraine in Group 4A is enough to keep them in with a chance of qualification. Germany have not kept a clean sheet in their last six matches and let in three against Switzerland last time out.
Despite losing three of their last four fixtures, Ukraine were impressive in their 1-0 home win against Spain – a result that kept them in touching distance of Nations League final qualification. They are the lowest scorers in Group A4, finding the net just four times in four games.
Sergiy Sydorchuk is out for Ukraine due to suspension. Robin Gosens won’t feature for Germany due to a calf injury.
Neither Germany or Ukraine are in particularly good form and the visitor’s win over Spain in their most recent fixture will give them a boost. However, with qualification riding on this match, Germany should hold their nerve and emerge as winners.
Turkey v Russia
Turkey will need to win this fixture if they want to be in with a chance of Nations League qualification. They have drawn four of their last five international matches and lost one. Turkey’s last win was a 1-0 victory over minnows Andorra in the Euro qualifiers – their only win in eight international matches.
Russia are the team to beat in Group B3, they have won two and drawn two in their four games so far and will put themselves in a strong position to qualify with a win over Turkey. The B3 leaders have only lost one match in their last six and two in their previous 14 international fixtures.
Burak Yilmaz (suspension) and Caglar Söyüncü (abductor) will be unavailable for Turkey.
Guilherme is suspended for Russia and Aleksandr Erokhin is also ruled out due to a muscular injury.
Russia are the favourites for this fixture after putting together a good run of form. However, Turkey are no write-off and have been unlucky not to pick up more points so they could cause a shock in this weekend’s fixture.
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