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It’s been barely two months since UEFA Euro 2024 ended with Spain breaking English hearts in Berlin, but already Europe is gearing up for yet another competition. The UEFA Nations League is just getting underway, and the tournament has been a great addition to the footballing calendar, replacing dead-rubber friendlies with competitive fixtures. As well as that, the tournament serves as a proving ground for unheralded nations to rise through the ranks and progress on the international stage.
With the action just getting underway, here are three teams to watch in the upcoming UEFA Nations League.
Portugal
Portugal enters the action as a formidable force, having claimed the inaugural title back in 2019 with comfortable victories against Switzerland and the Netherlands on home turf. Their recent performances at Euro 2024 left a lot to be desired, while question marks still loom over captain and talisman Cristiano Ronaldo at the age of 39. He is hardly the sensation that he was a decade ago, and he didn’t manage to hit the target once in Germany earlier this summer.
But despite their average performances on the biggest stage, the fact is that the Portuguese simply thrive against B-Tier nations. While they may well come unstuck against heavy hitters, they have been drawn with a group against Croatia, Poland, and Scotland, and that favorable draw has prompted online soccer betting odds providers to install them as a 7.95 contender for the trophy. We expect them to top their group at a canter but don’t expect them to breeze through the semifinals and final.
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France
France heads into the competition with a star-studded lineup that could rival any in the world, but just like the Portuguese before them, they too found it difficult at Euro 2024. Despite heading to Germany this summer as the joint favorites alongside England, Les Bleus stumbled through the tournament, reaching the semifinals without scoring a goal from open play. In the final four, they were dispatched by Spain in a thriller, despite taking an early lead through Randal Kolo Muani.
Now, they will be on the hunt for redemption. Led by the mercurial Kylian Mbappe, the French have a perfect blend of flair, precision, and tenacity, but under the tutelage of Didier Deschamps, they have become somewhat known for their pragmatism. After being drawn alongside Italy, Belgium, and Israel, the approach of grinding out results may serve them well, despite not being easy on the eye.
As we saw at the Euros, however, their reliance on individual brilliance from their captain and talisman can leave them vulnerable against staunch defenses. Drawing every game won’t be enough to see them top the group, but we can see them winning all three of their home games to secure their spot at the summit of their group.
Spain
Spain was once the epitome of footballing excellence and under manager Luis de la Fuente, they are now once again. And they have reached the summit far earlier than expected. La Roja were the stars of the show at Euro 2024, winning every game they played at the tournament to lift the trophy dominantly. They beat a murderer’s row of teams to get there, including England, France, Germany, Italy, and Croatia, and now they will be aiming to flex their muscles even further.
They head into the Nations League as the reigning champions after claiming the most recent prize two years ago. That was the start of their ascent, which continued this summer and may well culminate with the World Cup in two years. With talented young wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams fed by a wonderful midfield trident of Rodri, Dani Olmo, and Fabian Ruiz, expect Spain to dominate games as they have done many times before.
