UEFA Nations League 2024/2025

[Trollheart]

League B, Group 3 (B3)
Austria v Slovenia
Ernst Happel Stadion, Vienna

The home side went ahead just before the half hour, and held that lead until almost the end when, nine minutes from time Slovenia netted to equalise and earn a share of the points.


Result: Austra 1 - 1 Slovenia


League B, Group 3 (B3)
Norway v Kazakhstan
Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo

Norway powered their way past Kazakhstan, scoring three times in the first half, and adding two more in the second, the visitors without a single goal, or, possibly, shot. Know how yiz feel, lads!

Result: Norway 5 - 0 Kazakhstan.

Group B3  table: Norway are top with 13 points, qualify for the next round and are promoted to League A. Austria come second with 11 points, Slovenia are third with 8 and Kazakhstan, pointless, are relegated to League C.

[Trollheart]

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Turkey
Kadir Has Stadium, Kayseri

Another nil-all draw, so nothing I can tell you about this one.

Result: Wales 0 - 0 Turkey


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Iceland
Gradski Stadion, Nicksic

Montenegro held Iceland almost all the way through, the visitors only opening the scoring with 15 minutes left to go, then adding a second to make sure two minutes from time.

Result: Montenegro 0 - 2 Iceland

Group B4  table: Turkey are top of the table with 11 points, Wales second with 9. Iceland take third place with 7 and Montenegro, without a point, are relegated to League C.

[jimmy jazz]

Trolls I agreed with your pen analysis.

The shirt pull was a pen. The second one wasn't.

🦁🦁🦁

[Trollheart]

Day, um, something or other. I've lost track.

League A, Group 1 (A1)
Croatia v Portugal
Stadion Poljud, Split

Portugal were away within the half hour as Felix scored but just after the hour the ball was in the Portuguese net and Croatia levelled, the match ending in a draw.

Result: Croatia 1 - 1 Portugal


League A, Group 1 (A1)
Poland v Scotland
Stadion Narodowy, Warsaw

Villa led the way again as McGinn scored in the opening two minutes to give Scotland a precious lead in a game they needed to win. But could they hold on? A long way to go, Five minutes from the end of the first half they had the chance to go two up, but McTominay's shot came back off the post and Robertson's went over it. They almost lost the lead in fact when a Polish shot was saved on the line as the second half opened, but just before the hour the Poles were level, and now it would be all hands to the pumps for Scotland.

In the dying minutes of extra time Scotland made it safe when Robertson headed into the Polish goal to take all three points for his country.

Result: Poland 1 - 2 Scotland

Group A1 table: Portugal remain top with 14 points, already qualified, while Croatia are second with 8, Scotland one point behind at third with Poland bottom with 4 points and relegated to League B.

[Trollheart]

League A, Group 2 A2()
Israel v Belgium
Bozsik Arena, Budapest

Already relegated, Israel's first and only win in the competition couldn't save them and they are bound for League B. The game looked to be heading for another nil-nil, with Belgium continuing to look like a shadow of themselves without that man, but in the last six minutes it was the Israelis who scored, to perhaps take some small iota of pride back home with them. That's the last we'll be seeing of them anyway. Can't say I'm sorry.

Result: Israel 1 - 0 Belgium


League A, Group 2 (A2)
Italy v France
San Siro, Milan

A real top of the table clash produced four goals and a thriller of a game, as France set down an early marker, scoring in the first two minutes, then Italy did themselves no favours just past the half-hour when they netted past their own keeper to put France 2-0 up. They made amends two minutes later, pulling one back as this time they scored down the right end, but France made it safe in the second half, scoring their third just past the hour.

Result: Italy 1 - 3 France

Group A2 table: France are top with 13 points, level with Italy whose slightly inferior goal difference has them in second place. Well below this, on 4 points is the disappointing Belgium, and also with 4 points but a far worse goal difference, Israel are at the bottom and are relegated.

[Trollheart]

League A, Group 3 (A3)
Germany v Bosnia & Herzegovina
Europa-Park Stadion, Freiburg

The biggest thumping of any of the games so far, unless I miss my guess, Germany savaged poor Bosnia, scoring, like France, in the first two minutes then adding another halfway through the first half. Bosnia seemed to have no reply, and Germany went into testimonial mode, players lining up to take shots. Arsenal's Havertz got the third of the half eight minutes from the break, then Wirtz scored two in the second half, seven minutes apart, while 9 minutes after that Germany had their sixth, the last one going in ten minutes from time, which probably couldn't come soon enough for battered Bosnia. Deutschland uber alles, indeed!

Result: Germany 7 - 0 Bosnia


League A, Group 3 (A3)
Netherlands v Hungary
Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam

Not to be outdone by their Teutonic cousins, the Netherlands put four past Hungary without reply, a penalty opening the scoring after 20 minutes, a second coming a staggering twelve minutes into injury time at the end of the first half. The Dutch took their third just past the hour and finished off a commanding performance with a fourth four minutes from full time.

Result: Netherlands 4 - 0 Hungary

Group A3 table: Germany, as expected, storm on into qualification at the top of the table, with 13 points, while the Netherlands, with 8 points in second, also qualify. Hungary are third with 5 points and Bosnia are relegated to League B at the bottom of the table with a single point.

[Trollheart]

League A, Group 4  (A4)
Serbia v Denmark
Dubocica Stadium, Leskovac

Serbia and Denmark, both pushing for second place in the table, fought out a nil-nil draw that was certainly not short of chances, great saves and off-target shots, but in the end it was Denmark who secured second place and qualification.

Result: Serbia 0 - 0 Denmark


League A, Group 4 (A4)
Spain v Switzerland
Heliodoro Rodríguez López, Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Switzerland have had a hard time of it in this league, while over in the Champions League the team which is their sole representative are having just as tough a passage. Coming up against league leaders Spain was not the best of ways to bring their campaign to an end, but they fought gamely, perhaps putting in one of the performances of their time in the tournament. They held Spain till the half-hour mark when a penalty opened the scoring, after three attempts, with a save by the keeper, the second shot cleared off the line and the third finally going in. Props to the Swiss keeper; not many manage to keep Spain out!

It was, of course, only a temporary reprieve, and even though Switzerland scored just past the hour to draw level, Spain were ahead again five minutes later. A penalty six minutes from time seemed to have given the Swiss a precious point, even if they are already relegated, but Spain weren't through with them and scored again in injury time when they were awarded a second penalty - the third of the game - and undid all the Swiss's hard work, taking all three points and leaving Switzerland to face the drop without even a consolation draw.


Result: Spain 3 - 2 Switzerland

Group A4 table: Spain, already assured of qualification, remain top with a staggering 16 points, Denmark with half that at second, while Serbia are third with 6 and Switzerland at the bottom with just the two points, and relegated to League B.

[Trollheart]

League C, Group 2 (C2)
Kosovo v Lithuania
Fadil Vokrri Stadium, Pristina

Bowed but unbroken after the disgraceful behaviour of Romanian home fans a few nights ago, Kosovo were on friendlier ground tonight, at home, and they got the only goal of the match, scoring after just 5 minutes. They lost a man after a direct red just before the end of the half, and almost went behind twice, but the keeper saved one and the post saved the other as time ticked away for relegation-bound Lithuania. Kosovo held on for the win, memories of Sunday night surely receding now.

Result: Kosovo 1 - 0 Lithuania


League C, Group 2 (C2)
Romania v Cyprus
Arena Nacionala, Bucharest

Already through and promoted, Romania flattened Cyprus as they scored in the first minute, again five minutes from the half-time whistle, while Cyprus netted for the first and only time in the match just after the restart. Romania weren't long about re-establishing their two-goal lead though, scoring with ten minutes to go (after Cyprus had had a man sent off - never seen that happen before, a red card in each of the games in the group) and they made it completely safe two minutes later with their fourth.

Result: Romania 4 - 1 Cyprus

Group C2 table: Romania are top with 15 points, Kosovo behind then with 12, however there may be consequences after that abandoned game between the two, so nothing is sorted for sure yet. What is sorted is that Lithuania, without a win, a goal or a point, are relegated in fourth place, while Cyprus' position at third with 6 points is unlikely to be affected by any decision made by UEFA regarding the two teams above them.

[Trollheart]

League C, Group 3 (C3)
Bulgaria v Belarus
Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia

Stinging no doubt from their thrashing at the hands of Northern Ireland, Belarus were out for revenge, but fell behind instead within the first 12 minutes as Bulgaria took the lead, a position they maintained until 20 minutes from time when Belarus scored that all-important equaliser.

Result: Bulgaria 1 - 1 Belarus


League C, Group 3 (C3)
Luxembourg v Northern Ireland
Stade de Luxembourg

Surprising everyone, Northern Ireland are a cert for qualification and promotion at the top of the table, and they went into their last match against Luxembourg with nothing to lose really. They opened the scoring on 19 minutes, but if they thought they were going to breeze past Luxembourg like they had past Belarus, the home team gave them a sample of what they could expect when they almost scored on the half-hour from a free. The second half had barely begun though when Northern Ireland were two up, and Luxembourg, not known for scoring, much less coming back from a losing position,  looking well out of it.

But they weren't, and they pulled one back three minutes after the visitors had missed the chance to go three ahead, Northern Ireland not looking so secure now and beginning to wobble as Luxembourg followed that up three minutes later to level the game and deny the league table leaders all three points.

Result: Luxembourg 2 - 2 Northern Ireland

Group C3 table: Northern Ireland remain on top with 11 points and are promoted to League B, and go through to the next round. Bulgaria are second with 9 points and Belarus third with 7, while Luxembourg are at the bottom with just the 3 points.

[Trollheart]

League D, Group 1 (D1)
Liechtenstein v San Marino
Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz

Battle of the minnows as perennial whipping-boys Liechtenstein came up against, um, perennial whipping-boys San Marino at home, the game turning out to be a lot more interesting than would have been expected. Five minutes from the break the home side went ahead with a blistering strike that did not in any way have Liechtenstein written all over it, a real thing of beauty. However San Marino were looking at being promoted, for the first time ever, and they weren't letting that dream slip away without a fight.

Almost immediately after the restart they were level, and when they got a penalty just after the hour, Nanni wrote himself into the - admittedly short and less than chequered - history of San Marino football as he scored, putting his team ahead. He'll never have to pay for a drink in any pub at home again! Nor will Golinucci, who made it three with 15 minutes to go, ensuring San Marino's promotion was confirmed. 


Result: Liechtenstein 1 - 3 San Marino

Group D1 table: History is made for tiny San Marino, who will be playing in the heady heights of League C for the first time ever and also go through to the next round, their 7 points enough to ensure qualification. Gibraltar are second with 6 points, and despite scoring a goal, it's the same old song for Liechtenstein, who prop up the table with a mere 2 points.

[Trollheart]

So while it was a great night for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and Germany did what Germany do and Spain did what Spain do, and France hammered Italy and Israel went home, there's really only one story of the night.


Congratulations, San Marino!

A country of just over 34,000, the fifth-smallest in the world, with an area of just over 23 square miles (64 square kilometres) - that's less than half the area of Dublin, one-fifth of London and one-third of the size of Brooklyn - just managed to score three goals in a match for the first time ever in its history and achieved promotion to a higher league AND has made it through to the quarter-finals of the Nations League for the first time ever.

As the Scots have it, lang may yer prawd standard glorious'ly wave!
There'll be euphoria on the streets of the City of San Marino tonight, and well deserved!

[Trollheart]

Final Day

Oh lucky me! Schedule change on the telly meant the highlights failed to record, so I'll have to do the best I can with Wiki reports. Bear with me.


League A, Group 3 (A3)
Bosnia & Herzegovina v The Netherlands
Bilino Polje Stadium, Zeneca

Although relegated and out of the quarter-finals qualification or play-offs, Bosnia at least gave a decent account of themselves as they bowed out, drawing level just after the hour after the Dutch had taken an early lead halfway through the opening period.


Result: Bosnia 1 - 1 Netherlands


League A, Group 3 (A3)
Hungary v Germany
Puskas Arena, Budapest

Surely the shock of the night, as Germany, having hammered Bosnia 7-0 two nights ago were held to a draw by Hungary, who had also been battered by the Netherlands 4-0. It looks to have been a good one, scoreless until Germany netted fourteen minutes from time, and must have looked as if they had won it easily until nine minutes into injury time Hungary were thrown a lifeline when they were awarded a penalty. It was not a chance they wasted, surely scoring with the last kick of the game to equalise, presumably to Germany's shock and dismay.

Result: Hungary 1 -  1 Germany

League A3 table: Of course that result means little in the overall scheme of things, as Germany finish top of the table with 14 points and go through to the quarter-finals, as do the Netherlands, with 8. Hungary earn a place in a relegation play-off while Bosnia are sent home and were already relegated to League B.

[Trollheart]

League B, Group 1 (B1)
Albania v Ukraine
Arena Kombatare, Tirana

Ukraine got off to a flying start, scoring twice within the first ten minutes, while a penalty with 15 minutes of normal time to go allowed Albania to get on the scoresheet, but it wasn't enough to level the game.

Result: Albania 1 - 2 Ukraine


League B, Group 1 (B1)
Czech Republic v Georgia
Andruv Stadion, Olomouc

Another team off the mark early, the Czechs scored within three minutes, adding another just before the 25-minute mark. On the hour though Georgia put the ball in the Czech net, but the home side held on for the win.

Result: Czech Republic 2 - 1 Georgia

League B1 table: The Czech Republic, top with 11 points, qualify to go ahead and are also promoted to League A. Ukraine have 8 points and are in second place, and qualify for a promotion play-off, while it's relegation play-offs that will be on Georgia's mind, as they make third place with 7 points. Also with 7, but with a poorer goal difference, Albania in fourth are relegated to League C.

[jimmy jazz]

So while it was a great night for Scotland and for Northern Ireland, and Germany did what Germany do and Spain did what Spain do, and France hammered Italy and Israel went home, there's really only one story of the night.


Congratulations, San Marino!

A country of just over 34,000, the fifth-smallest in the world, with an area of just over 23 square miles (64 square kilometres) - that's less than half the area of Dublin, one-fifth of London and one-third of the size of Brooklyn - just managed to score three goals in a match for the first time ever in its history and achieved promotion to a higher league AND has made it through to the quarter-finals of the Nations League for the first time ever.

As the Scots have it, lang may yer prawd standard glorious'ly wave!
There'll be euphoria on the streets of the City of San Marino tonight, and well deserved!

All three of them?

You know they scored against England once? Went 1-0 up after 10 seconds or something stupid like that.

[Trollheart]

League B, Group 4 (B4)
Montenegro v Turkey
Gradski Stadion, Niksic

Perhaps an even bigger surprise than Bosnia holding Germany to a draw was already-relegated Montenegro pulling a performance like this out of the bag against the table leaders! They struck just on the half-hour, taking a surprise lead, but were quickly pegged back by Turkey who scored 7 minutes later to level the score. Just before the half-time whistle blew though, Montenegro were back in front, and they held on to that lead, adding to it on 73 to take the game easily, and certainly bow out in style.

Result: Montenegro 3 - 1 Turkey


League B, Group 4 (B4)
Wales v Iceland
Cardiff Stadium, Wales

In front of their home fans Wales made certain of qualification as they thundered over the Iceland team, though the visitors opened the scoring a mere eight minutes into the match. On the half-hour Wales were level though, and in extra time ended the first half two to the good. Shortly after the hour they added a third, and rounded off a fine performance with a fourth ten minutes from time.

Result: Wales 4 - 1 Iceland

League B4 table: Wales take top spot from Turkey at the last minute and are promoted to League A, as well as qualifying for the next round. A somewhat shocked Turkey, beaten into second place by a team already on the way home, now face a qualification play-off, when their fate had been so clearly in their own hands, but a single point is all that was in it in the end, Turkey with 11 and Wales with 12. Iceland take third place with 7, and will face a relegation play-off, while Montenegro, as mentioned, although finishing with a flourish, have only 4 points and are relegated to League C.