Good draw for us when I think back at all the groups we’ve had before. I do wonder if Bale, Ramsey and Allen will play any part by then.
Playoffs explained These 12 teams are the 'default' teams Netherlands Croatia Spain Italy Israel Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia Scotland Georgia Greece Turkey Kazakhstan If one of these teams are in the top 2 of their groups, they get replaced with one of these teams (the higher up their position is here, the more priority is given to them) Estonia Denmark Portugal Belgium Hungary Switzerland Poland France Austria Czech Republic England Wales Finland Ukraine Iceland Norway Slovenia Republic of Ireland Albania Montenegro Unfortunately, these teams can't be in the playoffs Romania Sweden Armenia Luxembourg Azerbaijan Kosovo Bulgaria Faroe Islands North Macedonia Slovakia Northern Ireland Cyprus Belarus Lithuania Gibraltar Latvia Moldova Malta Andorra San Marino Liechtenstein
Won't have the luxury of having the playoffs to fall back on like did with the World Cup so got to get in the top two.
You sort of can, just need 12 of these 23 teams to get top 2 in their group, which is insanely likely Netherlands Croatia Spain Italy Israel Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia Scotland Georgia Greece Turkey Kazakhstan Estonia Denmark Portugal Belgium Hungary Switzerland Poland France Austria Czech Republic England
Least it is the top two in each group and not just the group winner to automatically qualify. The only team worrying about is Turkey as expect Croatia to top the group.
Looking back on this with just a few days before the qualifiers, I was wrong There are 3 paths, A, B and C, each with 4 teams A's default teams are Netherlands Croatia Spain Italy If any of the 4 qualify normally, these teams will be there, in that order Denmark Portugal Belgium Hungary Switzerland Poland France Austria Czech Republic England Wales B's default teams are Israel Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia Scotland If any of the 4 qualify normally, these teams will be there, in that order Finland Ukraine Iceland Norway Slovenia Republic of Ireland Albania Montenegro Romania Sweden Armenia C's default teams are Georgia Greece Turkey Kazakhstan If any of the 4 qualify normally, these teams will be there, in that order Luxembourg Azerbaijan Kosovo Bulgaria Faroe Islands North Macedonia Slovakia Northern Ireland Cyprus Belarus Lithuania Gibraltar If there are still less than 4 teams in any pots, these teams will fill in the gaps, in that order Estonia Denmark Portugal Belgium Hungary Switzerland Poland France Austria Czech Republic England Wales Finland Ukraine Iceland Norway Slovenia Republic of Ireland Albania Montenegro Romania Sweden Armenia Luxembourg Azerbaijan Kosovo Bulgaria Faroe Islands North Macedonia Slovakia Northern Ireland Cyprus Belarus Lithuania Gibraltar Latvia Moldova Malta Andorra San Marino Liechtenstein If the path with less than 4 teams in it has a group winner, no team from a higher Nations League League can be there tldr it's hard
England squad announced. Ivan Toney in. No Raheem Sterling (injured). Bit surprised to see Marc Guehi in there ahead of Ben White given our form but Sir Gareth seems to view White purely as a RB.
I was going to ask whether it was something to do with his departure from the World Cup squad. Just seen Southgate's press conference and he said it's because he favours Walker and Tripper at RB, but seeing as White can play CB (and in a back three) it seems a bit of a suspect reason. He's looked good this season.
Strange Toney gets picked now having admitted the betting charges - maybe he's going to give some tips? I only say this as clearly footballing wise he has earned a call up but the thought was Southgate didn't pick him for the World Cup ue to the betting investigation..
Found Southgate's comments on England's lack of depth very odd. Talks of being "shorter than the other big nations on depth of selection", a lot of concern about the amount of English players in the Premier League dropping from 32% to 28% and "I think we've got four left-footed left-backs in the Premier League at the moment so we will have to start looking in the Championship or elsewhere." In terms of depth selection, England are in an amazing position and can only really be rivalled by one or two nations. When it came to depth at the World Cup, England had the strongest. Sure, they may have a lower percentage of English players playing in their own top flight system then some other countries but the standard is higher across the board in the Premier League than any other top flight. The talk of England only having four left-footed left-backs in the Premier League just is so far from the case, and gives a completely false perspective of who England have to choose from. The left-footed left-backs they've got in the Prem are Chilwell, Shaw, Targett, Mitchell, Cresswell, Burn, Bertrand, Sessegnon, Henry, Luke Thomas, Omar Richards and Toffolo. As well as that they've got countless players who can fill in that position, they are nowhere near considering a Championship player in that positon.
I guess he meant ones who he thought were good enough to be an International? Not Leciester's or Forest's reserve full back. But it is true we are stocked well in some areas - like right back and in attack. Shouldn't be too many complaints if all are fit.
Wales away to Croatia in the first game. Will happily take a point in the most difficult game for us.
But the comments he made were that he'd have to start selecting Championship players, because they only had four left footed left backs. Those players he's left out are above that standard, and are good enough to play international football for the vast majority of nations. You're more than well stocked in those areas, your in the top 2-3 nations in the world there if not the strongest.
With recent injuries I'm not at all confident of any result, anything out of the game would be a big bonus.
