Nations League 2018: Four matches worth watching during the international break from England to Gibraltar
The international break might be an unfathomable scourge on our sporting calendar but dig a little deeper and you might find there are a few games worth tuning in for
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Your support makes all the difference.The Nations League is back for one more international break in order to decide who is promoted, who is relegated and who is heading into the mildly-anticipated Euro 2020 play-offs next summer.
If you saw David Attenborough’s Dynasties this week then you will have seen the horrific beating suffered by the alpha male chimpanzee during mating season. In many ways it was similar to the scourge of the international break, a violent affront on our existence but at the same time a natural and inevitable part of the life cycle we can do little about.
And as David the chimp demonstrated, the best thing we can do is to dust ourselves down, lick our wounds and head back to the watering hole. Here we’ve found a few morsels to enjoy over the next few days:
1) New-look Netherlands can make another statement
Netherlands vs France
What time does it start? Friday 16 November, 7.45pm GMT
How do I watch on TV/stream online? Sky Sports Mix/Premier League & Sky Sports Go
Are the Dutch back? A win against the world champions France in Rotterdam on Friday night would be the perfect way for one of international football’s sleeping giants to reassert themselves at the top table with Ronald Koeman’s new-look team, shaped around a youthful spine of Ajax pair Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong.
Their opponents are unbeaten in 15 games, yet have somehow seemed a little shaky since ever since about the 65th minute of the World Cup final. France’s attacking machine remains in good working order – Kylian Mbappe and Olivier Giroud got the goals in September’s reverse fixture and Antoine Griezmann produced two to beat Germany in Paris. But Paul Pogba’s form has wavered, N’Golo Kante is still adapting to a new role under Maurizio Sarri, the captain Hugo Lloris is badly struggling at Spurs, while Benjamin Mendy has pulled out of the squad with an injury.
A win for the Netherlands would leave them in position to potentially win this fearsome group also featuring faltering Germany, something which seemed unlikely when it was first drawn, and in doing so they would prevent France from the reaching the Nations League’s inaugural semi-finals (which feels significant, though it’s hard to tell with this competition yet). However, a defeat would leave the Dutch facing a possible relegation to League B, setting up a crucial showdown against Germany to come next week.
2) Can England back up Spain display?
England vs Croatia
What time does it start? Sunday 18 November, 2pm GMT
How do I watch on TV/stream online? Sky Sports Football/Main Event & Sky Sports Go
Once the Wayne Rooney testimonial is out the way, England get back down to business in the Nations League with Croatia’s visit to Wembley on Sunday. The state of the group will depend on what happens in Zagreb a few days earlier; if Spain beat Croatia then they will sew up the group and effectively seal Croatia’s fate as the relegated side, with England almost certain to finish in second place. But if Spain fail to beat Croatia then England could potentially top Group 4 themselves. Admittedly, up against the Spanish and having not yet scored a goal in the competition, Croatia are likely to extend their poor run of only one win (1-0 in a friendly against Jordan) since beating England in the World Cup semi-finals.
For England, perhaps there is a more important point in the long run than where they finish this group: can they back up their impressive performance in Seville, where they beat Spain 3-2 in style? Some questions remain over the form and fitness of the captain Harry Kane, who hasn’t scored in his past seven appearances for his country, while it will be a concern to manager Gareth Southgate that so few of his midfield options have managed to sustain a regular starting berth at their club since the national team last convened.
Yet there is a feel-good factor around England right now and a sense that Southgate is building something that can stand the test of time. A win over Croatia would guarantee England remain in League A, and perhaps more importantly illustrate the progress they are sustaining.
3) Gibraltar aim for historic three in a row
Gibraltar vs Armenia
What time does it start? Friday 16 November, 7.45pm GMT
How do I watch on TV/stream online? Sky Sports red button & Sky Sports Go
Having waited 22 games for their first ever competitive victory, tiny Gibraltar now have the chance to make it three in a row and cement their status as the only team capable of beating Macedonia to League D Group 4’s top spot, when they meet Armenia on Friday.
It is some story for a team which only became officially affiliated with Uefa in 2013 and whose only two previous victories came in friendlies (against Malta and Latvia). A big positive of the Nations League’s convoluted format is that it avoids the pointless exercise of countries such as Gibraltar being thrashed by major nations, and now that Gibraltar are in the right weight class they are more than holding their own.
If anything can be gleaned from reading the Nations League’s small print, it is that one of the relative minnows of League D will win a place in Euro 2020. To have a chance of pulling off that extraordinary feat, first Gibraltar need to win their group but that is not an impossibility after back-to-back wins over Armenia and Liechtenstein. Another win over Armenia would effectively set up a showdown in Macedonia next week for the chance to win the group and take a step closer to an historic achievement of qualifying for a major tournament.
4) Eriksen vs Bale II
Wales vs Denmark
What time does it start? Friday 16 November, 7.45pm GMT
How do I watch on TV/stream online? Sky Sports Football/S4C & Sky Sports Go
Christian Eriksen compared Denmark’s game in Cardiff on Friday night to a “final” and it is likely to be decisive in the outcome of League B’s Group 4, in which Republic of Ireland are floundering and seemingly set for relegation. Wales are top with six points but Denmark, two points back, have a game in hand against the Irish still to come.
All of which means Ryan Giggs’s side probably need to beat them and secure three points which would guarantee Wales top spot, promotion, and a place in the Euro 2020 play-offs should they need it. It is one of those international games in which each country has one exceptional player, but while Eriksen is talking up the occasion, Gareth Bale is being assessed for an ankle injury – although he is expected to play a part.
“Bale is an exceptional player, he’s shown that for years,” Eriksen said. “He’s Wales’ talisman and he’s been that for years and will be for years. He’s technically very gifted, very direct, has a wonderful kick and a lot of pace and a good finisher.” There will be 22 players on the pitch but it is hard to escape the idea that the winner of this one will be the team with the star player who performs. In Copenhagen it was Eriksen, who scored twice in a 2-0 win; you suspect Bale will want to put on a show in his home town on Friday night.
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