Southgate’s a fan of new competition
England manager Gareth Southgate feels the new UEFA Nations League will bring a “real buzz” back to international football.
Four leagues of A, B, C and D have been split into four groups of three or four teams, with the Nations League games set to replace the majority of friendlies. It will also feature promotion and relegation.
Following yesterday’s draw in Lausanne, England will be in Group Four of League A, alongside Spain and Croatia. Wales, under new manager Ryan Giggs, will face the Republic of Ireland and Denmark in Group Four of League B.
Northern Ireland are in Group Three of League B, and will play Austria and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Scotland, still without a new manager, will play in League C and were drawn into a three-team Group One alongside Albania and Israel.
The UEFA competition is designed to allow teams to play against those who are similarly ranked – and will offer some nations who do not qualify for Euro 2020 via the normal route a path to the play-offs.
Southgate is confident the new venture can prove a success, both on and off the pitch.
“I think there’s a real buzz about it because the top level teams want competitive games and the teams in the other leagues get a realistic challenge too,” the England manager said on the FA website.
“If you’re one of the smaller nations there’s no point losing heavily, regularly, against better teams so how do you develop?
“You play in competitive games where you might start to win more and gain confidence that way, which is important for their development as a country.
“And there’s a carrot there for them to qualify for the finals too.”
Southgate expects the calibre of England’s Nations League opposition will see the end of low-key encounters.
“Our experience is you want big matches and against top-quality opposition which matter – and that is what UEFA are trying to address with this format,” Southgate said.
England will open at home against Spain on September 8 before travelling to Croatia on October 12 and Spain three days later.