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Copyright © 2024 CGTN. 京ICP备20000184号
Disinformation report hotline: 010-85061466
The UEFA Nations League trophy is displayed prior to the start of the 2024 UEFA Nations League football finals draw in Paris, France, February 8, 2024. /CFP
Whenever a major football tournament is on the horizon, it's a given that fans will gravitate toward a few familiar storylines. Which country stands the best chance of going far? Who will be the dark horse that surprises everyone? Which player will stand out as the top scorer? And perhaps most intriguingly, which group will be labeled the "Group of Death"? It's a captivating topic that never fails to ignite curiosity and anticipation.
The same held true for the final draw of the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League, which was held in Paris on Thursday. As the participating teams learned their fate, Group A2 emerged as a hotbed of high-profile clashes.
European champions Italy, World Cup runners-up France, the star-studded Belgium squad, and the rising force of Israel will all lock horns in what promises to be an enthralling battle on the pitch.
Players of Italy and their coach Roberto Mancini celebrate on the podium after winning the Euro 2020 final at Wembley Stadium in London, England, July 11, 2021. /CFP
Group A1 is also poised to deliver a thrilling set of group-stage matches, with Croatia, the runners-up in last year's final, squaring off against former champions Portugal, Poland, and Scotland.
The showdown between Euro 2024 hosts Germany and the Netherlands headlines Group A3, where they will be joined by Hungary and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Meanwhile, defending champions Spain breathed a sigh of relief as they managed to avoid formidable opponents, finding themselves in Group A4 alongside Denmark, Switzerland, and Serbia.
England, having been relegated to League B after finishing at the bottom of Group A3 in the previous edition of the Nations League, will face the Republic of Ireland, Finland, and Greece in their upcoming matches.
It's worth noting that England and Ireland have not crossed paths in a competitive fixture since 1991, during a European Championship qualifier. Their most recent encounter was a behind-closed-doors friendly in November 2020, which saw England emerge victorious with a 3-0 win.
France players celebrate after reaching the World Cup final at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar, December 14, 2022. /CFP
This edition of the Nations League brings a new twist with the addition of a knockout round. The winners and runners-up from the League A groups will engage in two-legged quarterfinals, with the victors advancing to the finals. In League B, C, and D, the group winners will automatically be promoted, while the last-placed teams in League A and B will face relegation as usual.
Additionally, the two lowest-ranked teams in League C will drop down to League D. A series of play-offs will also be held between the third-placed teams in League A and the runners-up in League B to determine further promotion and relegation between the two leagues.
The first round of matches is scheduled for September 5-7, with the group phase concluding in mid-November. The League A quarterfinals and promotion/relegation play-offs will take place in March 2025, followed by single-leg semi-finals and a final in June 2025.