National team
Nations League is looking for a premiere winner – Germany is missing
Croatia’s Luka Modric bites the medal after the award ceremony and celebrates. The real star wants to win the Nations League this week. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
There will be no European Championships or World Championships for men this year. It’s still about a football title – namely the one in the Nations League.
At the end of a long football season, there is one last title at stake. There will definitely be a premiere in the Nations League. The DFB-Elf would have liked to be there, but are missing in the Netherlands. The German Press Agency answers the most important questions about the tournament this week.
What’s the matter?
To win the third edition of the Nations League. UEFA created the competition to make most of the international matches at European and world championships compulsory. Portugal won the first edition in 2019, two years later France secured the title.
Who’s in?
Hosts Netherlands and Croatia meet in the first semi-final on Wednesday. A day later, Spain and Italy will play the second finalist. All four nations won their groups and thus qualified for the finals. The game for third place and the final will then be played on Sunday.
Where is the game played?
It will be played in Enschede and Rotterdam. The final will also take place in Rotterdam’s De Kuip on Sunday. Normally, most of the Oranje team’s matches are played at the Amsterdam Arena. However, this is not available this week because superstar Beyoncé is playing two concerts there.
Who is favorite?
That is hard to say. After a long season, many players are tired. The question is who can really motivate themselves again for the competition. The Netherlands were the only team to remain undefeated in the group stage. With the home crowd behind them, Elftal wants to win the title. It would be the first since winning the 1988 European Championships in Germany.
Why is the German team missing?
National coach Hansi Flick had actually given participation in the finals as a goal in order to be able to play competitive games again before the European Championships at home next year. But a disappointing 1-0 draw with Hungary in Leipzig meant Germany missed out on first place in Group 3. Instead, Italy qualified from the Germany group for this week’s finals. Flick is testing against Ukraine, Poland and Colombia instead.
Where can the games be seen?
Both the semi-finals on Wednesday and Thursday as well as the game for third place and the final on Sunday can be seen live on DAZN. In addition, RTL has secured the rights and will be showing the second semi-final between Spain and Italy on Thursday and the final on Sunday live.