The Nations League is one of the newer international competitions and while it may lack the prestige of the World Cup or European Championships, it is still a tournament teams want to do well in.
That is particularly the case for the four Home nations, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. All of whom have been starved for international success in recent times.
The 2024/25 Nations League has just two more matchdays to be played and both come up over the coming fortnight. Each of the four home nations has a different aim in these games.
In this post, we’ll preview what each of the four teams needs from their final couple of Nations League games.
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Let’s now take a look at the situation for all four teams, starting with the only representative in Nations League A – Scotland.
Nations League Matchdays 5 & 6 Preview
League A1 – Scotland
Current Standings
- Portugal – 10pts (+4)
- Croatia – 7pts (+1)
- Poland – 4pts (-2)
- Scotland – 1pt (-3)
Scotland’s Previous Nations League Results
- Matchday 1 – v Poland (H) – L 2-3
- Matchday 2 – v Portugal (A) – L 1-2
- Matchday 3 – v Croatia (A) – L 1-2
- Matchday 4 – v Portugal (H) – D 0-0
Scotland’s Remaining Nations League Fixtures
- Matchday 5 – v Croatia (H)
- Matchday 6 – v Poland (A)
Scotland’s Main Aim for Matchday 5 and 6?
Things look grim for Scotland’s chances at staying in League A of the Nations League. They are three points adrift of Poland heading into their home game with Croatia on Matchday 5. Steve Clarke’s main aim has to be to go into the Poland game with a chance of finishing at least third in the Group and avoiding relegation.
That may be a big ask given the Scots have lost three of their four games, and will have to face the Poles on foreign soil for that final group game. In the meantime, Croatia are no slouches and they have the quality to cause Scotland plenty of problems on Matchday 5, especially with them chasing down Portugal at the top of this group table.
Realistic Outcome for Scotland?
Realistically, Scotland have to beat Croatia to stand a realistic chance going into the final game, and even then, that may not be enough if they can’t get a result in Poland. A draw against Croatia is a more manageable result, but would require the Poles to lose to Portugal on matchday 5, which is a distinct possibility.
However, our gut feeling is that the Scots may struggle to get anything against this experienced Croatia team and that their relegation back to League B will be all-but a certainty following Matchday 5.
Key Player – Scott McTominay (Napoli)
If Scotland are to spring a surprise or two at the end of this Nations League campaign, it will likely be the former Manchester United midfielder who is at the heart of it. McTominay has become a regular goalscorer for club and country over the last 18 months or so and he has scored several vital goals for Scotland in recent times.
League B2 – England
Current Standings
- Greece – 12pts (+8)
- England – 9pts (+5)
- Ireland – 3pts (-5)
- Finland – 0pts (-8)
England’s Previous Nations League Results
- Matchday 1 – v Ireland (A) – W 2-0
- Matchday 2 – v Finland (H) – W 2-0
- Matchday 3 – v Greece (H) – L 1-2
- Matchday 4 – v Finland (A) – W 3-1
England’s Remaining Nations League Fixtures
- Matchday 5 – v Greece (A)
- Matchday 6 – v Ireland (H)
England’s Main Aim for Matchday 5 and 6?
In Lee Carsley’s final two games as interim manager, the Three Lions know that two wins from two is an absolute minimum from these games and even then, unless they can overturn a goal difference that is three-worse than Greece in those matches, that may still not be enough.
Everything is riding on the Matchday 5 clash against a Greece team who were fully deserving of their 2-1 win at Wembley a month ago. England’s performance that day was dismal and they are going to have to play considerably better in Athens if they are to get anything from that game. A two-goal victory would move England top of the group, but is a big ask given how they performed a month ago.
If they manage a win then another at home to Ireland is also very much a requirement if they are to earn promotion back to League A. Anything less would be a very disappointing failure from England in this tournament.
Realistic Outcome for England?
Everything hinges on that first game against Greece and the way the Greeks played at Wembley, and how England played in that game, gives England fans little confidence that they can put in the kind of performance they need to turn things around. Especially with several key players withdrawing from the squad due to injury.
I am backing England to get a draw in Athens to take things into the final game, but Greece to do enough to top the group regardless of how England do against the Irish at Wembley.
Key Player – Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
The Real Madrid star scored his first league goal of the season at the weekend and he was England’s best player against Greece last month. He will need to put in another dominant performance for England especially given the players ruled out through injury.
League B4 – Wales
Current Standings
- Turkey – 10pts (+5)
- Wales – 8pts (+2)
- Iceland – 4pts (-2)
- Montenegro – 0pts (-5)
Wales’ Previous Nations League Results
- Matchday 1 – v Turkey (H) – D 0-0
- Matchday 2 – v Montenegro (A) – W 2-1
- Matchday 3 – v Iceland (A) – D 2-2
- Matchday 4 – v Montenegro (H) – W 1-0
Wales’ Remaining Nations League Fixtures
- Matchday 5 – v Turkey (A)
- Matchday 6 – v Iceland (H)
Wales’ Main Aim for Matchday 5 and 6?
It is hard to see Turkey dropping any points in their final game away to Montenegro, which means that Wales need to pick up a win from their trip to the country on Matchday 5. They drew 0-0 when they met in the first game in the group, but it was an even game.
However, playing at home against Turkey is very different to playing away from home against the Turks and with this Welsh team relatively inexperienced, against an in-form and experienced opponent, I think that this may be a step too far for the Welsh team.
That said, I think the Welsh will finish with a flourish on Matchday 6 against Iceland to end the competition on a positive note.
Realistic Outcome for Wales?
It is a big ask for Wales to get a result against a strong Turkey side away from home and I think their promotion challenge may end there.
However, I expect them to come back to beat Iceland in their final game to confirm second spot in the Group and ensure they remain in League B for the next Nations League tournament.
Key Player – Harry Wilson (Fulham)
Harry Wilson has become a super-sub for Fulham in recent times, coming off the bench to score vital goals for Marco Silva’s team. For Wales, he is a regular starter and has been amongst their best players in this tournament so far, netting in three games in this tournament for Wales.
League C3 – Northern Ireland
Current Standings
- Northern Ireland – 7pts (+6)
- Belarus – 6pts (+1)
- Bulgaria – 5pts (-4)
- Luxembourg – 2pts (-3)
Northern Ireland’s Nations League Previous Results
- Matchday 1 – v Luxembourg (H) – W 2-0
- Matchday 2 – v Bulgaria (A) – L 0-1
- Matchday 3 – v Belarus (A) – D 0-0
- Matchday 4 – v Bulgaria (H) – W 5-0
Northern Ireland’s Nations League Remaining Fixtures
- Matchday 5 – v Belarus (H)
- Matchday 6 – v Luxembourg (A)
Northern Ireland’s Main Aim for Matchday 5 and 6?
Two wins for Northern Ireland will be enough for them to win their group and clinch promotion back to League B. However, a win over Belarus at home, especially b y another hefty scoreline, would be a huge boost for the team ahead of Matchday 6. Bulgaria should be Luxembourg, but if they don’t and the Northern Irish can beat Belarus, then they’ll qualify with one Matchday to spare.
Regardless of the result on Matchday 5 though, they’ll still have a chance to win the Group on Matchday 6 if necessary. They won’t care how they win the group, just that they do so.
Realistic Outcome for Northern Ireland?
I expect this Northern Ireland team to be brimming with confidence after thrashing Bulgaria last time out. I expect them to beat Belarus on Matchday 5 and then go to Luxembourg and wrap up a fine campaign with a win there too. Nations League B here they come!
Key Player – Isaac Price (Standard Liege)
The ex-Everton midfielder has become a key man at club level for Standard Liege and has translated that form onto the international stage well. He scored a hat-trick against Bulgaria last time out and his threat from midfield will be key for the Northern Irish as they seek to regain their status in Group B of the Nations League.
