UEFA women’s Nations League: Who has qualified, what’s left?

The UEFA women’s Nations League has reached its closing matchday, with loads to play for as the highest groups look to seal qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

But what’s left and what occurred within the penultimate group-stage video games?

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Who has certified for the playoff finals already?

League A bunch winners: France, Spain

Who may nonetheless qualify and who’s out?

In rivalry in League A: Netherlands, England, Belgium, Germany, Denmark.

Relegated from League A: Scotland, Switzerland, Wales.

What are the primary tiebreakers within the teams?

– Highest variety of factors obtained by the groups in query.
– Higher aim distinction in matches performed among the many groups in query.
– Higher variety of objectives scored within the matches performed among the many groups in query.

How does the Nations League finals playoff work?

The 4 best-ranked international locations from the teams in Nations League A will compete in a mini-tournament — two semifinals, a third-place recreation and a closing — with the 2 finalists sealing qualification for the 2024 Olympics.

If France, who’ve already certified for the Olympics as hosts, attain the ultimate then the winner of the third-place playoff will go to the Olympics.

The draw for the finals playoffs shall be made on Dec. 11 and the matches performed between Feb. 21-28, 2024.

There can even be playoffs for eight groups as League B’s second-placed sides tackle those that completed third in League A.

And the identical for six groups (determined in a mini-table) as League C’s runners-up face League B’s third place.

Things to know from the group stage

Group A1

Remaining fixtures (Dec. 5): Netherlands vs. Belgium; Scotland vs. England

England comeback makes issues fascinating

England wanted to beat Netherlands by two clear objectives on Friday to raised them on all of the head-to-head tiebreakers. But, 2-0 down by half-time, the plan modified to one in all salvation and ultimately Ella Toone’s gorgeous stoppage-time profitable aim (following efforts from Georgia Stanway and Lauren Hemp both facet of the hour mark) was solely sufficient to take them degree with the Dutch on factors.

The thrilling 3-2 win was sufficient to make sure England are nonetheless in with an opportunity of reaching the semifinals, however they must beat Scotland by three objectives greater than the Dutch beat Belgium. If Netherlands lose or draw, any win for England in Glasgow shall be sufficient to high the group. But in the event that they fail to win, Belgium may but sneak high spot with a win themselves — doubtless wanted anyway to keep away from a relegation playoff spot.

Will Scotland tank the sport?

If England seal qualification then the Great Britain group could have a spot on the Olympics. That means Team GB coach Sarina Wiegman is free to choose any Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland gamers, in addition to these from England.

So that presents an fascinating quandary: if any Scotland participant dealing with England on the pitch on Tuesday night time has a hope of enjoying on the Olympics subsequent summer season, it might be of their finest pursuits to lose by a cushty margin. Yet, there’s little probability we’re heading for one more “Disgrace of Gijón.” Scotland are backside of the group and shall be relegated to League B regardless of a good 1-1 draw with Belgium on Friday, so all that is left on the road is satisfaction. It’s Scotland versus England at Hampden Park and there shall be no higher tonic for his or her Nations League maladies than sticking it to their southern rivals.

Yes, there ought to have been a stipulation within the Nations League draw that England could not be drawn into the identical group as both Wales or Scotland, however the probability of those particular circumstances lining up was very low. Indeed, had Toone not discovered a stoppage-time winner at Wembley, it might be a moot level as Netherlands would have been by means of by now.

Group A2

Remaining fixtures (Dec. 5): Austria vs. Norway; Portugal vs. France

Katoto returns for France

France sealed their progress with a cushty 3-0 win over towards Austria and, 505 days after struggling a torn AC towards Belgium, striker Marie-Antoinette Katoto returned to motion. Amandine Henry and Eugénie Le Sommer’s objectives set the stage and, coming off the bench at half-time, Katoto made positive of all three factors with a thumping header within the 84th minute to internet her twenty seventh senior aim for Les Bleues.

Norway roll again the years

With no probability of progress, it has been a forgettable few years for Norway. The once-great group have struggled and, with simply two factors from 4 video games coming into the final camp of the 12 months, one thing wanted to alter underneath interim supervisor Leif Gunnar Smerud. In a 4-0 win over backside facet Portugal, superstars Ada Hegerberg and Caroline Graham Hansen finally made the distinction, with Hegerberg firing in a brace within the opening eight minutes earlier than finishing her hat trick after the break.

A win towards Austria will see them end second and keep away from a relegation playoff, whereas a degree could be sufficient to see them keep away from computerized relegation — ought to Portugal spring a shock to beat France, which they should do to keep away from relegation themselves.

Group A3

Remaining fixtures (Dec. 5): Denmark vs. Iceland; Wales vs. Germany

Germany put themselves in pole place

Germany wanted to beat Denmark by three objectives to place qualification in their very own fingers and delivered with an entire efficiency in a 3-0 win. Although Denmark have improved underneath new coach Andrée Jeglertz they struggled to comprise the hosts and succumbed to objectives from Alex Popp, Marina Hegering and Klara Bühl because the hosts began to look extra like their previous selves following some turbulent occasions behind the scenes.

Germany nonetheless have to beat backside facet Wales — assuming Denmark overcome Iceland (who’re assured third spot and a relegation playoff) — of their final recreation however, because it stands, Horst Hrubesch’s facet are high of the group for the primary time and forward of Denmark on the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Group A4

Remaining fixtures (Dec. 5): Italy vs. Switzerland; Spain vs. Sweden

Spain surprised by Italy

At half-time in Pontevedra all the pieces was going to plan for the world champions: 1-0 up and comfortably controlling the sport. But three objectives in 18 second-half minutes from Italy handed them their first loss since their group-stage conflict with Japan on the World Cup.

Valentina Giacinti acquired issues began a minute after half-time, earlier than Michela Cambiaghi and Elena Linari added objectives from poorly defended corners. A late conciliation from Esther González not sufficient to undo the injury achieved for Spain, who appeared more and more frantic after going behind, and although they ended up going by means of regardless of the 3-2 defeat, the match ought to function a reminder that they should do extra than simply present as much as win.

Italy now want to raised Sweden’s outcome to climb above them into second and keep away from the relegation playoff.

Switzerland shock Sweden

While that Italy win was sudden, it might have given Sweden a hope going into the ultimate matchday in the event that they hadn’t contrived to lose 1-0 in snowy Switzerland.

They ought to have gained simply. The numbers had been closely skewed in favour of the guests, who had 19 photographs to 3, and 7 on the right track, with three totally different efforts placing the woodwork in Luzern. Yet, it was Ana-Maria Crnogorčević’s sixth-minute header that separated the 2 groups when the ultimate whistle blew.

Sweden, after reaching the ultimate in each Tokyo (2020) and Rio (2016), will no longer be on the Olympics in any respect subsequent summer season. And they will both have to beat Spain, or hope that Switzerland can do them a favour towards Italy to keep away from a relegation playoff.

Things of be aware from different teams

Promoted from League B: Finland, Poland, Republic of Ireland.

Confirmed in League A/B play-offs: Iceland, Serbia.

Relegated from League B: Albania, Belarus, Romania.

Promoted from League C: Azerbaijan, Kosovo, Turkey.

The lights exit in Tbilisi

The greatest comeback of the spherical additionally noticed one of many strangest moments. Two objectives to the nice away from house, Luxembourg had been cruising towards Georgia in Group C2 earlier than the lights went out on the Mikheil Meskhi I Stadium simply earlier than half-time. The drawback was quickly righted and it clearly made a distinction as Georgia got here again to win 4-2 with objectives from Teona Bakradze, Khatia Chkonia, Nino Bukhrikidze and Natia Danelia. The win retains Georgia within the hunt for a doable playoff to achieve promotion to League B, though they face group winners Turkey of their final match.

Slovenia break their duck

Heading into their final house recreation of 2023, Slovenia had been with no win of their final eight outings. Although Saša Kolman’s facet had solely misplaced two of these eight, the group had constantly struggled to transform attracts into wins. And, into the ultimate quarter of the sport towards Group B4 leaders Bosnia and Herzegovina, the hosts trailed 1-0 and had been heading for one more disappointing outcome. However, a three-minute brace from Zala Kuštrin helped by some questionable defending from the guests, ensured Slovenia banked their first house win of the 12 months.

Slovenia now want a win over Czechia of their final recreation to have an opportunity of ending second for a promotion playoff spot, however can even want Bosnia and Herzegovina to lose or draw towards last-placed Belarus. Bosnia, in the meantime, should win and hope Czechia lose or draw if they’re to win the group.

Ševcova steals the present in Riga

Battling away for high spot in Group C1, Latvia made mild work of Andorra due to Olga Ševcova’s five-minute hat trick in wintery Riga. The 31-year-old opened the scoring within the forty second minute earlier than including a second from a devastating counterattack on the stoke of half-time. Ševcova wanted simply two second-half minutes to finish her hat trick when she poked Karlīna Miksone’s sq. ball house on the again submit. The midfielder even had time to bag an help, teeing up Anastasija Poļuhoviča from a nook.

Latvia sit second within the group, three factors behind leaders Malta, and may seal promotion with a win over them in Ta’ Qali on Tuesday.