The UEFA Nations League is back for its third edition, with four of Europe’s strongest sides battling it out for the title. The Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, and Italy will compete in the semifinals and final this week, with each team hoping to follow in the footsteps of Portugal and France, who won the previous two editions. The tournament, which began in 2018, was created to give European nations more competitive fixtures instead of international friendlies, with the four group winners of the strongest “A” tier reaching the final four. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at each team’s chances and what to expect from the upcoming matches.
Semifinals
The first semifinal will see hosts the Netherlands take on Croatia in Rotterdam on Wednesday. The Netherlands got the better of Belgium, Poland, and Wales in Group A4 to reach the finals. However, they will be missing key defender Matthijs de Ligt through injury. Coach Ronald Koeman hopes home advantage can push his team on, saying, “The players push themselves and perform better as a team.” In their way lies a Croatia side that proved their mettle in the World Cup by knocking out favorites Brazil and ultimately finishing third. For some players, including Real Madrid midfield maestro Luka Modric, the tournament represents one of the last chances to win silverware at international level — something Croatia have never managed.
The second semifinal will see Spain take on Italy in Enschede on Thursday. Spain finished runners-up to France in the 2021 finals, beating Italy in the first game. The sides have clashed multiple times on big stages, including in the Euro 2020 semis, with Italy progressing on penalties before beating England to lift the trophy. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s team arrives at the tournament under pressure after a 2-0 loss against Scotland in March in Euro 2024 qualifying. However, goalkeeper Unai Simon said Spain’s style of play had not changed too much under De la Fuente. Italy coach Roberto Mancini has called up five Inter Milan players for the finals, who will arrive after finishing runners-up in the Champions League final. After missing the World Cup, the final four provides another chance for Italy to flex their muscles.
Final
The two winners of the semifinals will face off in the final on Sunday. None of the “final four” have won a trophy in over a decade, except for Italy — although the Euro 2020 champions have plenty to prove themselves after failing to qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The last time Spain won a trophy, at Euro 2012, they thrashed Italy 4-0 in the final. The Netherlands’ last success came in the 1988 European Championship. Croatia has never managed to win silverware at international level.
Conclusion
The UEFA Nations League provides an opportunity for European nations to compete in more competitive fixtures instead of international friendlies. The four strongest teams in Europe will battle it out this week to win the third edition of the tournament. The Netherlands, Croatia, Spain, and Italy will compete in the semifinals and final, with each team hoping to follow in the footsteps of Portugal and France, who won the previous two editions. The tournament provides a chance for each team to win silverware at international level and prove themselves on the big stage.