Spain look to book a place in UEFA Nation League finals

WINDHOEK, NOV. 14 – The group stage of the 2018/19 UEFA Nations League will wrap up with 46 matches across Europe from 15 to 20 November, with promotion, relegation and a place in the Finals up for grabs.

Spain could become the first team to secure a place in the Finals from League A when they play away to Croatia in Zagreb in their final match of Group 4 on Thursday night. La Furia Roja need a win to guarantee top spot, yet a triumph for the Blazers would set up a massive showdown with England in London on Sunday in which relegation or advancement to the Finals would be on the line.

Thursday also sees Belgium with a chance to effectively wrap up Group 2 in League A, as they welcome already-relegated Iceland to Brussels. The Red Devils are looking to open a three-point lead over Switzerland, before the pair meet in the final match of the group in Lucerne on Sunday.

Friday’s League A showdown is in Rotterdam, where world champions France need only avoid defeat against the Netherlands to secure top spot in Group 1. Assuming Les Bleus do claim a place in the finals, the Oranje and old rivals Germany would then have a battle to avoid relegation to League B when they meet in Gelsenkirchen next Monday night.

Saturday’s League A match takes place in Milan and sees Italy looking to bring themselves back into Group 3 contention when they host leaders Portugal. Yet even a loss at the San Siro wouldn’t be the end of the story for Fernando Santos’ team, as they would have a chance to reclaim first place and move into the Finals with a win at home to already-relegated Poland in Braga next Tuesday.

Some of the key games from League B (where the Ukraine have already earned promotion) include the clash between Turkey and Sweden in Konya on Saturday, with the Scandinavians looking to keep the fight for promotion alive and set up a winner-takes-all clash with Russia in Solna, Bosnia-Herzegovina need only avoid defeat in Vienna on Thursday to earn promotion, and Denmark will fancy their chances of rising to the top of Group 4 with games away to Wales and at home to Ireland on Friday and Monday respectively.

In League C, the focus will be on Scotland’s matches away to Albania and at home to Israel, as Alex McLeish’s side chase four points to win promotion, while League D sees Luxembourg, Kosovo and Macedonia well placed to join Georgia in winning promotion.

Key match stats

Croatia v Spain – Head-to-Head
Matches played 6
Croatia wins 2
Spain wins 3
Draws 1

Netherlands v France – Head-to-Head
Matches played 26
Netherlands wins 10
France wins 12
Draws 4

Italy v Portugal – Head-to-Head
Matches played 25
Italy wins 18
Portugal wins 5
Draws 2

2018/19 UEFA Nations League fixtures, 15-20 November
All times CAT

Thursday 15 November
17:00: League D, Group 1: Kazakhstan v Latvia
21:45: League A, Group 2: Belgium v Iceland – LIVE on SS7, Max360 & SelGO5
21:45: League A, Group 4: Croatia v Spain – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League B, Group 3: Austria v Bosnia-Herzegovina
21:45: League C, Group 2: Greece v Finland – LIVE on SS12 & SelGO2
21:45: League C, Group 2: Hungary v Estonia
21:45: League D, Group 2: Luxembourg v Belarus
21:45: League D, Group 2: San Marino v Moldova

Friday 16 November
21:45: League A, Group 1: Netherlands v France – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League B, Group 1: Slovakia v Ukraine – LIVE on SS5 & Max360
21:45: League B, Group 4: Wales v Denmark – LIVE on SS7, Max2 & SelGO5
21:45: League C, Group 3: Cyprus v Bulgaria
21:45: League C, Group 3: Slovenia v Norway – LIVE on SS12
21:45: League D, Group 1: Andorra v Georgia
21:45: League D, Group 4: Gibraltar v Armenia
21:45: League D, Group 4: Liechtenstein v Macedonia

Saturday 17 November
16:00: League C, Group 4: Serbia v Montenegro – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
19:00: League B, Group 2: Turkey v Sweden – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
19:00: League D, Group 3: Azerbaijan v Faroe Islands
19:00: League D, Group 3: Malta v Kosovo
21:45: League A, Group 3: Italy v Portugal – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League C, Group 1: Albania v Scotland – LIVE on SS12
21:45: League C, Group 4: Romania v Lithuania

Sunday 18 November
17:00: League A, Group 4: England v Croatia – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
19:00: League B, Group 3: Northern Ireland v Austria – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
19:00: League D, Group 2: Moldova v Luxembourg
19:00: League D, Group 2: San Marino v Belarus
21:45: League A, Group 2: Switzerland v Belgium – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League C, Group 2: Greece v Estonia – LIVE on SS9
21:45: League C, Group 2: Hungary v Finland

Monday 19 November
19:00: League D, Group 1: Andorra v Latvia
19:00: League D, Group 1: Georgia v Kazakhstan – LIVE on SS3 & SelGO4
21:45: League A, Group 1: Germany v Netherlands – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League B, Group 1: Czech Republic v Slovakia – LIVE on SS6 & SelGO2
21:45: League B, Group 4: Denmark v Ireland – LIVE on SS5 & SelGO5
21:45: League C, Group 3: Bulgaria v Slovenia – LIVE on SS7
21:45: League C, Group 3: Cyprus v Norway
21:45: League D, Group 4: Liechtenstein v Armenia
21:45: League D, Group 4: Macedonia v Gibraltar

Tuesday 20 November
21:45: League A, Group 3: Portugal v Poland – LIVE on SS3, Max1 & SelGO4
21:45: League B, Group 2: Sweden v Russia – LIVE on SS8
21:45: League C, Group 1: Scotland v Israel – LIVE on SS7 & SelGO3
21:45: League C, Group 4: Serbia v Lithuania
21:45: League C, Group 4: Montenegro v Romania
21:45: League D, Group 3: Kosovo v Azerbaijan
21:45: League D, Group 3: Malta v Faroe Islands