Netherlands, Belgium, France, eye finals berth

World Cup winners France, Eden Hazard’s Belgium and a fast-improving Netherlands under Ronald Koeman could all book places in the finals of the Nations League in matches between Thursday and Tuesday.

The competition – Uefa’s bid to move away from meaningless friendly matches – has divided opinion in its inaugural season.

The strongest sides will qualify for the finals next June, but all 16 group winners will get a place in the Euro 2020 qualification playoffs.

However, if those nations have already qualified for Euro 2020 through normal qualifying, the best-ranked team from a lower group will be drafted in. Qualifying for Euro 2020 begins next March.

France would go into the finals on Friday with a draw against the resurgent Netherlands in Rotterdam.

Germany have struggled to put a disastrous World Cup behind them and face the prospect of relegation from Group A1, having taken a solitary point so far.

They have to beat the Netherlands in Gelsenkirchen on Monday to avoid dropping down a division.

The incentive for the Dutch is clear – two wins will see them into next year’s finals.

Hazard’s Belgium, the side that were only stopped at the World Cup by France, will reach the finals with a Group A2 win against Switzerland in Lucerne on Sunday. In fact, a draw would be enough if the Belgians avoid defeat against Iceland on Thursday.

World Cup finalists Croatia are hunting a first Nations League win when they host Spain, to whom they lost 6-0 in September.