The UEFA Nations League draw takes place today, Thursday, December 16, at 17.00 UK time, with Italy included in pot 1.
The Azzurri finished third in the last edition of UEFA’s friendly tournament, beating Belgium in the third-place play-off.
They had lost to Spain in the semis, collecting their first defeat in 37 matches.
The 2022-23 Nations League begins in June 2022 and ends in the same month the following year. Wales, Austria, Czech Republic and Hungary were promoted to League A, while Ukraine, Sweden, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iceland were relegated to League B.
The Access List has been compiled based on the teams’ results in the 2020/21 UEFA Nations League.
How does the Nations League draw works?
The 16 teams allocated to League A are divided into four draw pots as follows:
• Pot 1 will contain the four best-ranked teams, i.e. the teams ranked 1st to 4th
• Pot 2 will contain the four teams ranked 5th to 8th
• Pot 3 will contain the four teams ranked 9th to 12th
• Pot 4 will contain the four teams ranked 13th to 16th
Teams will play all their group opponents home and away in June and September 2022.
Four of the six matchdays will be in June due to the winter scheduling of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The four group winners in League A will advance to the knockout Finals in June 2023. The group winners in the other three leagues will all be promoted for the 2024/25 edition.
The teams finishing fourth in the groups in Leagues A and B will be relegated.
Nations League League A pots
Pot 1: France, Spain, Italy, Belgium
Pot 2: Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany
Pot 3: England, Poland, Switzerland, Croatia
Pot 4: Wales, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary
Nations League 2022-23 dates and Finals
Matchdays 1 & 2: 2–8 June 2022
Matchdays 3 & 4: 8–14 June 2022
Matchdays 5 & 6: 22–27 September 2022
Finals draw: tbc
Semi-finals: 14 & 15 June 2023
Final & third-place match: 18 June 2023
Play-outs: 21–23 & 24–26 March 2024
The four League A group winners will take part, with in principle one appointed as hosts. The semi-finals will be played on June 14 and 15, 2023, with the Final and third-place play-off on June 18.
I don’t even know how I could watch Italy play if we don’t make the world cup. Mancini needs to make some changes.
I want Germany, England, Austria/ Czech’s.
2 scenario’s how this plays out:
A) Qualify to the World Cup: bring some different players (Amaru, Joao Pedro, hella more Di Marco, Lazzari) and try different formations so when we go to the World Cup, with 4 UNL matches having been played, we are not stale and predictable, which we clearly have become. In a match at the tournament, if the situation arises, we can change formations during the match without difficulty. Then lift that trophy as well for the 5th star.
B) not qualify to the World Cup: overhaul of team. Rebuild of players aged 26 and Under. Then suffer for 3 years until Euro 2024.