The draw will take place on October 9th

Yeah I believe so. Rankings are as follows, I'd imagine Russia will still be banned come October

I'm not sure how they're going to rank the teams across the groups in our division with the Russia group only having three teams now. If they award the other teams in that group 6 points each for the Russia games it counts against us massively, but if they decide to drop everyone's points against the fourth placed teams in the other groups it could work out well as we might be able to discount the Armenia loss.

We get a playoff for 2nd place in this nations league group?

Hmm not so doom and gloom then especially if we can pick up a result of any kind against Ukraine.

Never even thought about this, I'd imagine that is what they'll do as it's probably the fairest way to do it.

Definitely as you say if it was to stay similar to the above there could be a potential horror group of say

Spain,England, EIRE, Turkey, North Ireland

on hindsight there would be the potential for something like

Austria, Israel,EIRE, Luxembourg ,Malta, San Marino 

The order of that League B - how is that sorted?
Why are Serbia on 7pts below Israel on 4?
So this league is not the NL results but some ranking points that we can't see?

Because Israel are top of their group, Serbia are 2nd that's how it works, it's based on positions in Nations League.

As also pointed out above Israel have played one game less due to Russia being kicked out

So it's not pts total, its positions and then all the, say, 2nd positions are ranked on pts versus each other?

Exactly 

Yes, but then that would be unfair on the teams in the Russia group because they're playing fewer games so that will have to be balanced out somehow. UEFA haven't clarified how they're going to do that yet.

Yes, but then that would be unfair on the teams in the Russia group because they're playing fewer games so that will have to be balanced out somehow. UEFA haven't clarified how they're going to do that yet.

Yeah that is a bit of headache as said above they'll probably just take out the results against the bottom teams in each of the Group B groups so for example our results against Armenia wouldn't matter (if they finished bottom)

Now, all bets are off if Armenia win tomorrow!

We’re going to need a bit of luck to get a nice group. There’s going to be some horrors lurking in pot 4 too

100% both Competitively and travel terms too, for example Turkey could decide to play their home games in a few different places ,OK majority of times they play in Istanbul but they've also play in Izmir and Konya, Antalya, Trabzon,Rize, Eskisehir in recent years.

Kazakhstan wasn't the easiest/cheapest place to get to last time either 

All but guaranteed.
 

Is that a pairing they usually don’t allow for political reasons?

I really don't see the point in Kenny putting that much pressure on to win the group then. How much more of a boon is getting promoted. can't be a huge difference in attendances. He should have just said we aim to secure a playoff place

Nope they can play each other

Kosovo—Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo–Serbia, Kosovo–Russia, Russia–Ukraine, Armenia–Azerbaijan and Gibraltar–Spain

Can't play each other for political reasons

Ah don't even post that as a joke  

Think you have it wrong here - we can't finish third and get promoted to second because the results against the teams in last won't be discounted within the context of our own group.

They will be discounted only when working out the individual seedings of the teams that finished in, say, third place - so that groups can be compared to each other as fairly as possible.

(1) the top 12 Nations League teams not to qualify for Euro 2204 automatically/directly, or 

(2) if it will be the top placed team in each Nations League group from League's A, B & C (and the next best team to fill that spot if group winner is already qualified)?

I saw conflicting reports in newspaper articles from last year, and some suggested UEFA would confirm the qualifying route this summer but can't find any confirmation. 

So finish first or second behind Ukraine and hope they qualify automatically next campaign?

League is league A-D. We are in league B. So let's say we finish second on 10 points but Serbia from our league but in B4 group  finish second on 11 then I think that means they would be ranked ahead of us and get the place. 

I think the last nations league, basically the top 3 from league B would be ok for a play off. 

If there's a 3 team group would that mean points won v the bottom team in the 4 team groups wouldn't count towards best 2nd placed?

For the Nations League four years ago third was enough for a playoff place, but there were fewer teams - 12 in A and 12 in B, whereas it's 16 in A and 16 in B now. 

In the last Nations League two years ago, if the playoffs had been run on the Euros format that we're using this time, only two teams that came third in B would have got a playoff. Ireland, being the lowest ranked third placed team last time, would have missed out. 

So, if we finish third in the Nations League group, a high points total is important. Beating Armenia at home is a must, but a point at least in Scotland would be very helpful.

I think for that to happen, Scotland would have to beat Ukraine twice and top the group, meaning Ukraine would finish above us on head to head.

It is more likely that we finish the campaign on 8 points, Scotland on 8 points, and Ukraine on 14, and we would be 2nd then on head to head with Scotland.

Forgot that this the third nations league campaign. 

Ok so yeah with the more teams it's very important to come top two. 

That Scotland last game has a fair amount of meat on it now.

Too early to be saying that Stephen.

Bump pretty much as expected. 

Ten Groups (7 with 5 teams, 3 with 6 - I'd imagine Germany will be added to one 5 team group not containing the UNL League A winners and will play friendlies)

Top 2 qualify from each group qualify.

Playoffs will be decided from the Nations League League Winners not qualified though it doesn't say it I've read elsewhere that the Group A spot will be handed down to League D winners should all those teams automatically qualify, so unlike Euro 2020 if we were to finish 2nd we wouldn't be guaranteed a playoff spot due to say all the League B winners qualifying (I could be wrong on this though) 

Hungary beat Germany they'll be guaranteed to be Top Seeds

and if Italy beat England, then England will be in Pot 2

Did I read somewhere that France could end up being 2nd seeds? Is there anywhere online you can see potential seedings/current standings?

The rankings can be found here :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Nations_League#Overall_ranking" rel="nofollow - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Nations_League#Overall_ranking

Teams ranked 1-11 (minus Germany) will be Pot 1

Teams ranked 12-21 will be Pot 2

Teams ranked 22-31 will be Pot 3

Teams ranked 33-42 will be Pot 4 (32nd ranked team is Russia they are banned)

Teams ranked 43-52 will pot 5

Teams ranked 53-55 will pot 6

With their win last night France have gone up to Pot 1.

To summarise all teams which finish in top 3 (bar the one who finish with the worst record of the League A 3rd place teams) will be Pot 1

All teams who are relegated from League A will be pot 2 (France were in relegation zone before last nights win)

Depending on the results of next few days France could well finish bottom or that worst record league A team.

Yeah agree I don't think England will be bothered as they'd most likely qualify as one of the Top 2 anyway, but it still gives them a tougher game then they'd probably want.

Nope if we finish 3rd we'd be Pot 3.

AFAIK

So if we finish 2nd, we have a chance? Could 7pts from the 4 games be enough?

John Nice wrote: Looking at the rankings currently and I know they are subject to huge change in the coming week. There doesnt look to be a lot between the teams currently occupying the 2nd seed spots (with the exception of England) and those in the 3rd seed spots (who we'd avoid if we end up as appears likely 3rd seeds). From our pov, we would like to see France/ENgland/Italy end up as 1st seeds to avoid a possible group of death scenario, but otherwise getting 2nd seed vs 3rd seed status doesnt look to make that big of a difference in terms of potential opposition. There will be some weakish teams in Pot 2 and some strong teams in Pot 3 whom we will avoid.

Yeah theres f**k all between Pots 2 and 3.

You could just as easily draw a Norway or Switzerland from Pot 2 or Ukraine or Serbia from Pot 3.

Its luck of the draw. Like our 2018 draw getting Wales from Pot 1, Austria from Pot 2 and Serbia from Pot 3. 4 teams with little between them.

I agree i'd rather avoid the possibility of a group with say France and England being the Top 2

There's team in Pot 2 currently you'd want to avoid England as previously mentioned and maybe the Swiss (though we did take points from them last campaign we played them.

Let's all be honest of the current Pot 1 teams the only one we could realistically fancy getting points off would be Hungary (though they do seem to be in good form- [queue them getting hammered by Germany tonight  ] and Czechia 

And as far as I can see there's still a chance Hungary end up bottom of that group if they lose their final 2 games vs Germany and Italy, particularly if England can beat the Italians tonight.

Croatia (ageing) and Denmark are 2 other top seeds currently that we might fancy taking points off. We did after all take points off Portugal in the latest campaign and we were absolutely robbed over there. Tbf, our young team seems to be on an upward curve atm. (cue them getting hammered by Scotland tmw )

Yeah I suppose you could make a point for Denmark and Croatia, I'd still want to avoid them though

I'd say terms of who'd you want from the current Pot 1 I'd rank them as follows

1.-Czech Republic - could be a dangerous team would be a nice trip too (they do have to play Switzerland in their last game so we might see these two switch pots)

2.Hungary- as described while in good form of the current 10 teams in Pot 1 you'd want them over most of the others

3.Denmark- Who doesn't fancy another trip to Copenhagen  joking aside you'd take them over the other teams

4. Croatia- as you say they do have an ageing team, it will be interesting to see what the likes of  Modric,Perisic do after the WC but we wrote them off when we got them in 2012 and it bite us, still have a great collection of players at their disposal, but I'd take them over others

5. Portugal - As you say we gave them a decent fight and did take points off them during the last campaign- be again interesting to see potential retirements after the WC 

6. Italy- will be current holders and have been struggling a little since winning the Euros, on their day they just know how to win- it we get them the game 100% ROME

7. Netherlands- again on their day they know how to win, Koeman will take over from van Gaal after the WC , they have a good mix of youth and experience so will be tough (I actually think they'll go quite far in WC- potential outsider bet 12/1)

8. Belgium- Their golden generations last real chance this winter perhaps but defence aside a good few are still only early 30's. We gave their B team a decent game back in March but one of the top 3 to avoid

9.Spain- Another who I think could be a potential WC winner, you talk of our great young talents coming through, the likes Pedri, Gavi Ferran Torres,Pino are on a different level.

10. France- Could go onto back to back WC's , while I think they have been flaky at times since, you really wouldn't want them.

And sure enough, they're down. And it's 5 games without a win. Yet, come Mid-november, the Brit tabloids will still be tipping England to win the World Cup. 

Can actually see them being humbled by US and the Welsh come November 

Pretty clear what's needed to get a playoff 

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Nations_League" rel="nofollow - https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Nations_League

The overall ranking section of this Wikipedia page basically shows it. 1-11 other than Germany are the first seeds as it stands, 12-21 second seeds 22-31 are third seeds, Russia at 32 are excluded, 33-42 are fourth seeds (Turkey look dangerous there) and then 43 and below are the also rans. 

There are a number of results in games not involving Ireland that could help our ranking in terms of maybe sneaking an unlikely playoff place, starting with group B3 tomorrow - we would want either Montenegro or Romania to finish third instead of Finland in that group.

I don’t see too many teams from 29 down qualifying directly so confident we’ll be in the playoffs - the League A one being the most likely.

Cheers. Looking forward to the draw in a couple.of weeks 

Best Case - Switzerland, Israel, Bulgaria, Gibralter

If Czechs win they'll switch with Swiss so France would still be pot 1 but yes either Austria or Poland win and they'll be pot 2

Correction on the following you are correct if Czechs were to win they would go ahead of France too, French are currently the worst placed 3rd placed team which will put them 12th in the rankings and pot 2

They won their previous 4 games without conceding a goal before this round of Nations League games. 14 goals.

Turkey are a bit of a mad team alright they're either really good or really bad, I still wouldn't fancy them in qualifying if I'm honest 

More evidence that these supposed minnows are rapidly improving

doherty wrote: Would that be the Faroes biggest ever result? Bound to be. Them and Luxembourg have done well in that group.

they won away in Athens once that was huge at the time. Might have been in the North's group

🇧🇪 Belgium

🇭🇷 Croatia

🇩🇰 Denmark

🇭🇺 Hungary

🇮🇹 Italy

🇳🇱 Netherlands

🇵🇱 Poland

🇵🇹 Portugal

🇪🇸 Spain

🇨🇭 Switzerland or Czech Rep

2nd seeds 

If you could handpick 

I'd go  probably Poland or maybe Czechs if they won tomorrow

Israel or Bosnia from pot 2

We will somehow end up with Wales, Georgia and Denmark in our group though. Even if we are in the same pot it is guaranteed. 

Not saying anything but no doubt a Faroe Islands win would of been high enough odds 

9th October 

Been a long time coming. Belgium & England or Spain & France 

Yep and depending on how the fixtures are, we could be out of the running after matchday 3 

From Wikipedia (which I'd imagine just pulled straight from UEFA website)
 

So from my understanding of the above at this current moment

Croatia, Portugal*,Hungary*,Netherlands From League A are guaranteed a playoff spot the only one there you could probably say might fail to be top 2 would Hungary, if Croatia Portugal, Netherlands qualify their playoff spot goes to the best ranked 2nd placed team in League A not yet qualified at present time that would be Denmark, Belgium and Spain (again all 3 of them more than likely would finish top 2) but for argument sake let's say Denmark didn't they'd take one spot the next spot would go down to one of Poland,Switzerland or France(currently 3rd) , again if they have qualified it would go down to the 4th place teams at moment Austria,England,Czech R and Wales , If the first 3 there qualified Wales would take the 3rd spot the 4th spot would then be taken by the best ranked League D winner currently Estonia

So League A playoffs would look something like this

Hungary v Estonia

Wales v Denmark

My understanding is also that if all teams from League A qualified then the playoffs would be

The winners of League D

Estonia, Latvia and then the next two highest ranked teams not qualified who aren't qualified for League B playoffs already, so for argument sake let's say Serbia and Ukraine.

There's a lot of unknowns at this point. We'll know a bit more in the next few days. Barring a disastrous loss against Armenia we will be ranked somewhere between 25th and 28th. But there's a big difference between being 25th and being 28th. 25th still gives a decent playoff chance I think. Whoever finishes 27th will need a miracle. 28th can forget it. So there are a load of games over the next few nights not involving us that will have a huge impact. Starting with the two games in the Finland/Romania group tonight.

Aye thats what it looked like to me, 25th/26th should get one, while 27th has a chance imo.