New Format Hailed A Success

LEAGUE A

Holland, Switzerland, Portugal, England qualify for next summer’s finals

Germany, Iceland, Poland, Croatia relegated

- Gavin Hamilton

Any doubts that UEFA’s new Nations League competition might fail to capture a jaded public’s imagination were dispelled where it mattered most – on the pitch, where many of the groups went down to the wire.

Attention was held until the final minutes in many key matches, with dramatic comebacks by Switzerland, Holland and England providing excitement until the last moments of the campaign.

The three-team format in Leagues A and B certainly contributed to the drama, but even in Leagues C and D there were many notable storylines, including the emergence of UEFA’s newest member, Kosovo.

The promoted teams from all 16 groups will now compete in play-offs, which will add a new – if somewhat confusing – element to the qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 which kicks off in March.

Holland confirmed their revival under Ronald Koeman by winning Group 1, ahead of world champions France and 2014 World Cup winners Germany.

France’s 2-0 reverse in Rotterdam ended their 15-game unbeaten run and took the group to the final game. Didier Deschamps’ side were missing injured midfielder Paul Pogba and it was his replacement, Steven Nzonzi, who was at fault for Holland’s opening goal, when his poor clearance was punished by Georginio Wijnaldum. Memphis Depay added a penalty in injury time.